Photography Appreciation
Born in Pasadena, California, Phillip Dixon is an internationally acclaimed American fashion photographer, renowned for his unparalleled vision and mastery in capturing the essence of style and beauty. His iconic images grace the pages of esteemed publications such as Playboy, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar.
Dixon's journey into photography is a fascinating tale. After an enlightening acid trip, he had an epiphany – simplicity held great power.
"What I realized was this: It was easy to be complicated and difficult to be simple. I got down to the simplest form of what I was good at, which I realized was arranging things. So I thought about all the things I could do to get paid for arranging things. I thought, Ah -- Halleluiah! I could arrange things and take a picture of them."
Realizing his talent lay in arranging things, he set out to find ways to monetize this skill through photography. His path began as a delivery boy for a photographer, later evolving into a photo lab technician and eventually leading him to work in pornography.
A turning point in Dixon's career came when Playboy Magazine stumbled upon his pictures of his then-girlfriend and eagerly bought and published them – an unprecedented feat for unsolicited work. Despite this initial success, his tenure at Playboy was short-lived due to creative differences, with Hugh Hefner dismissing Dixon's photography as too abstract.
"[Hugh Hefner] had put a bunch of pictures to illustrate what he didn't want in the magazine anymore... The pictures were by Helmut Newton and me. He called our pictures abstract. And I said to him, 'Come on. You think a girl on her hands and knees with her ass in the air wearing matching lingerie out is reality? Stick it where the sun don't shine Pajama Man!'"
Undeterred, Dixon went on to make his mark in advertising, capturing editorial images for Jimmy'Z. After 15 fruitful years, he decided to take a break and moved to Mexico. However, his career saw a revival in the 1990s when he joined forces with Harper's Bazaar, collaborating with fashion and Hollywood celebrities.
Beyond fashion, Dixon ventured into architectural and interior photography, showcasing his exceptional understanding of space and light. This expertise even extended to designing his own house in 1993, a realization of his love for nature and his distinct visual approach to light.
"When I designed my house, I realized... I always photographed in nature." He added, "Architects don't understand natural or artificial light. They're mathematical. I'm visual. The house is kind of inside-out."
What sets Dixon's work apart is his ability to infuse fashion photography with a sense of authenticity and naturalness. His style is a reflection of his personal taste, a pursuit of beauty that embraces rawness, desirability, and authenticity in women, rejecting the artificial and exaggerated.
"I have one style, one point of view. Me... A lot about photography is about personal taste. Mine is about what I find beautiful. I like women to look raw, desirable and real. I don’t like them to look like plastic dolls or clowns."
The impact of Phillip Dixon's photography has earned him countless accolades and exhibitions across the globe, cementing his status as a visionary artist. From New York to Paris, his work has graced prestigious galleries, continually captivating audiences with its unique blend of fashion and art, transcending traditional boundaries.
Sources:
https://loeildelaphotographie.com/en/phillip-dixon-between-genius-and-hermit/
https://www.bellazon.com/main/topic/72501-phillip-dixon/
https://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/photographers/phillip-dixon/
https://models.com/people/phillip-dixon
https://www.lamag.com/theseen/party-house-of-the-month-photographers-phillip-dixon-and-veronique-vials-venice-home/
https://forums.thefashionspot.com/threads/phillip-dixon-photographer.261399/
https://www.traceymattingly.com/news/tracey-mattingly-llc-welcomes-photographer-phillip-dixon
http://wardrobetrendsfashion.com/tag/phillip-dixon/
https://fashioncow.com/2013/05/daria-pleggenkuhle-by-philip-dixon-for-numero-china-junejuly-2013/
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