Audrey Hepburn - Photographs 1953-1966

by Bob Willoughby (Photographer)

A photographic love affair
 

"People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone." —Audrey Hepburn

In his distinguished career as a Hollywood photographer, Bob Willoughby took iconic photos of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Fonda, but remains unequivocal about his favorite subject: Audrey Kathleen Ruston, later Edda van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston, best known as Audrey Hepburn. Willoughby was called in to shoot the new starlet one morning shortly after she arrived in Hollywood in 1953. It was a humdrum commission for the portraitist often credited with having perfected the photojournalistic movie still, but when he met the Belgian-born beauty, Willoughby was enraptured. "She took my hand like...well a princess, and dazzled me with that smile that God designed to melt mortal men's hearts," he recalled.

As Hepburn's career soared following her Oscar-winning US debut in Roman Holiday, Willoughby became a trusted friend, framing her working and home life. His historic, perfectionist, tender photographs seek out the many facets of Hepburn's beauty and elegance, as she progresses from her debut to her career high of My Fair Lady in 1963. Willoughby's studies, showing her on set, preparing for a scene, interacting with actors and directors, and returning to her private life, comprise one of photography's great platonic love affairs and an unrivalled record of one of the 20th century's touchstone beauties.

After our limited and art editions, this book is now available in a trade edition.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Biography, Coffee Table Books, Film, Fashion

279 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2010

Reviews

[LadyS · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end of it all, I thought to myself that there should be more pictures. I felt that somehow the reader or the viewer could understand Audrey a little better through the pictures presented. She was ever elegant, innocent yet alluring and she also seems like the type that changes the entire atmosphere of a room when she enters. I enjoyed looking at the sets especially for the classic film "My fair lady" . It was very elaborate and just mesmerizing to look at.

[Ariadna73 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did not like any of the pictures. Didn't find her true spirit reflected in any of them.

[MikelAnt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've be an Audrey fan since I've been a kid (I even wrote an entire essay about her life and work in high school) and I've watched most of her movies. But I've always wanted a book with all her photos in it, until I found this book online. Unfortunately, it wasn't available in my country, but one day I found it in a thrift store and it was possibly one of the luckiest days of my life. The content of the book, like most coffee table books on topics such as fashion, art, and photography, is dedicated to offering us the best possible quality images, and this copy more than delivers. The images couldn't be better, sharp and printed on good paper. There is almost no text except for a few quotes from people close to Audrey referring to her, and the book is divided into themes from Paramount to films such as My Fair Lady or The Children's Hour, accompanied by a series of tender photos of her with her children or in the privacy of her home.
If I had to find a negative aspect, it would only be that I would have liked more photos, but this does not really detract from the value of the book.

[MKF · Rating 1 out of 5]

I looked forward to seeing all the beautiful photos that filled this large book and I was very disappointed when I finished. The author just picked a few movies and a few sections on her personal life. Each section isn't very long and the photos seemed like he just grabbed a bunch of random ones for the book. If you expect to see photos of Audrey as the famous Holly in Breakfast at Tiffany's you will not find any in here. I guess I just expected to see a bunch of different photos from her films and life not just a few handful that is suppose to represent her.

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Te recomiendo este libro tan sólo si eres fan de Audrey Hepburn y enamorado de la fotografía, porque este libro es basicamente eso: un compendio de fotografías de la actriz tomadas por Bob Willoughby.

Yo personalmente lo he disfrutado mucho, a pesar de que el texto se reduce a algunas citas y los pies de fotos se encuentran todos juntos al final del libro. Me ha servido para no sólo deleitarme sino además tomar mucha inspiración y apuntes.

Nota importante: no hay texto.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely pictures. I always love Taschen's editions, but I would've enjoyed it more if I didn't have to flip to the back every time I wanted to see information about the picture.

[Russell Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing photographs by a wonderful artist.