Jul 9, 2015
Katherine Ann Moss
16 January 1974, Croydon, Greater London, England
16 January 1974, Croydon, Greater London, England
"At a shoot, I'm really aware of everything. When they do makeup, sometimes I can't see what they're doing, but I can feel it. I know what I look like, even when I can't see what they've done. I know how to compose myself."
'Kate Moss, Marrakech', 1993
The photographs from the session in Morocco by Albert Watson are some of the most celebrated images of Kate Moss; they are also among her personal favorites.
The story behind the images of Kate Moss
Written by: Clare Gillsäter
"It was 5:00 p.m. on January 16, 1993. We were on a rooftop in Marrakech, illuminated by the warm late afternoon sun. The brief called for a focus on beauty and skin, hence the nude shot to emphasize Kate's grace. Albert's signature simplicity came into play while he was planning the lighting. He used only natural sunlight to shape the image, which brings its own challenges – it shifts constantly. You need to have good intuition and be capable of quickly adjusting to the light's changing brightness and nuances. The whole production exuded natural vibes. Kate’s hair fell freely and her makeup was minimal, so there was little prepping.
There were no outfits to arrange. Albert could focus on a successful shot without waiting for hairdressers, make-up artists and stylists to put together the whole look.
Albert took her out of herself: “You look like a wood nymph or a fairy in the woods.” He asked her to visualize herself “crouching down, and you’re a bit nervous looking for something.”
Take a closer look at the image. Kate is leaning slightly forward, with a wistful look in her eyes. And as she does so, her body captures that late afternoon sun, the light moulding her.
This second shot of Kate taken from behind shows the perfect curvature of her spine. That he created the same mood in this image, although it was taken indoors with studio-style lighting, is a credit to Albert and his conception of light. He managed to replicate natural light and its soft effect.
Albert worked with her all day, 14 hours from start to finish. They took about 25 shots, and Albert said she was fantastic, not complaining even once. At the end of the day she turned to him and said, “I just want you to know one thing. Today is my birthday.” She had just turned 19."
For Calvin Klein Obsession
The daguerreotypes of Chuck Close
1997
For Interview magazine
For Love magazine n°3
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