Scottish photographer Albert Watson has spent the past 50 years shooting the stars. A master of the celebrity portrait, he has created some of the most iconic shots of the pop culture zeitgeist, capturing Jack Nicholson, David Bowie, and Prince at the peaks of their careers.
Watson is also a renowned fashion photographer, having shot over 100 covers for Vogue, capturing Kate Moss and Christy Turlington throughout the 1990s. Now, Watson, who is 79, is the focus of a sprawling retrospective on view at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, which runs until Sept. 5. “Albert Watson: The Light Behind the Lens” showcases 50 of his most renowned photographs from the past 40 years. He also released a book on June 8 called Albert Watson: Creating Photographs, which offers smart tips for photographers today.
Watson got his start in his hometown of Edinburgh, where he studied graphic design and film, then turned to photography after moving to Los Angeles in 1970. Watson speaks from his home in New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood about Steve Jobs, surrealism, and what makes a show-stopping magazine cover.
