Barry Lategan who has died after a long illness aged 89 years was one of Britain’s leading fashion, portrait and advertising photographers from the 1960s to the 2000s. He was best known for his portrait of Twiggy, for his Vogue covers, and his advertising work. Many of his photographs are immediately recognisable. He was awarded an RPS Honorary Fellowship in 2007.
Lategan was born in South Africa and came to Britain in 1955 to study at the Bristol Old Vic theatre school. National service with the RAF intervened and it was during a tour in Germany that he joined the camp photographic society and photography took over his life. Lategan retuned to South Africa in 1959 and assisted Ginger Odes.
He returned to London in 1961, working in some of the leading studios, and photographing fashion. In 1966 he was introduced to Twiggy, then 16 years old, and created what became the face of the 60s. This helped propel Lategan’s career and he had his first Vogue cover in 1968 of a fur-clad Lesley Jones. He worked regularly for Vogue until 1981. He set up his own studio in 1967 in Chelsea. His photography was included in Bailey and Litchfield’s Ritz magazine, and he was the subject of a BBC2 Arena programme broadcast in 1975.
In 1977 he moved to New York to focus on commercial and advertising work, including directing television commercials, and personal projects.
On his return to London in 1989 he continued with his advertising work and TV commercials for companies such as Jaeger, Pirelli, Vodafone and Gordons, winning numerous awards in both mediums. During his career he photographed many well-known models, celebrities from fashion, film and music, and royalty.
In 2006 Lategan suffered a serious fall which caused a serious brain injury and affected his behaviour. He was diagnosed in 2016 with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) which he and his family discussed publicly to raise awareness of the condition.
Lategan was involved with AFAEP, now the Association of Photographers, and helped select the inaugural AFAEP Awards in 1984. He held his first exhibition at the Photographers’ Gallery, London, in 1975, and was widely exhibited during his career (including by the RPS). Along with many of his contemporaries he enjoyed a long association with Olympus Cameras.
His work is held in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery and V&A Museum, London, and elsewhere.
The Barry Lategan Archive is now being managed by his son, Dylan.
Text: © Michael Pritchard
Image: Barry Lategan, c1950s. © Estate of Barry Lategan / Barry Lategan Archive
Comments
I worked as his Assistant during the mid 60s as his creativity was finally being acknowledged. Not only a brilliant photographer but had the makings of a great actor. A terrific teacher committed to all. What I learnt from him made possible to become Studio Manager to Mr Penn in NYC. Truly a loss to photography and for myself a great friend.
That's really interesting to know. Thank you for sharing. His son, Dylan, is managing Barry's archive.
Barry Lategan for his undoubted fame has a Wikipedia page that seems far too brief and without a single photo reference to pinpoint what should be recognisable photographic fame. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Lategan
It was much sparser before last week. I'll ask Dylan about adding some pictures and I could extend the text, too.
Excellent if you can mention some important subject matters ..