Sarah moon was born in 1940 in England, and currently lives in Paris, the formal model has been working as a photographer since 1967.
Moon's first photographs were portraits of friends – who also happened to be models – and her career grew from there. "Somebody lent me a camera," she says, "and while we waited between shots, I took pictures. It came out of friendship." Before long her images were everywhere and she was creating images for Comme des Garçons, Cacharel, Issey Miyaki and Chanel. Sarah was also the first female photographer to be commissioned by Pirelli to shoot their famous calendar in 1972.
Also, while in Berlin last summer I decided not to pick up her newest book, "12345", a comprehensive 5 volume look at her extraordinary work, because of it's huge size & price, thinking I could order it when I got home. It has since gone out of print. What a disaster and horrible luck. I'm trying to get my hands on a copy of these, I'm hoping there are some still floating around. You can read a recent interview in conjunction with the release of Sarah's "12345" book here. There's also a YouTube video of someone flipping through the book (cheesy music included!)
Some of Sarah's work, mostly from the 2000s
Issey Miyake & Marie Claire Japan
10 Magazine 2008
Hussein Chalayan, 2000
Lilith Campaign 2009 & Le Parfum, 2001
Black Book Magazine & Glamour Italy
In Sarah's own words:
"After all these years, people hire me because they want my impression," she says, "they know what I do. I know how difficult it is to make a living as a fashion photographer, however, and, with so many photographers now working, it is harder than ever to believe in your own vision, to listen to your own voice. That, though, is what any good photographer must do. That, in the end, is what it is all about. You have to listen to your own voice, to work for yourself, and accept that it will make a difference."
Comme des Garcons & Galiano
Dior Homme in Metal Magazine, 2010
"For me, photography is pure fiction," Moon says, "even if it comes from life. I photograph people, of course, as I do nature – trees, flowers, animals – but I charge it with something other than reality, with feeling, with a certain feeling depending on the day. I compare myself to reportage photographers, who make some sort of statement about life. I don't believe that I am making any defined statement. Instead, I am expressing something, an echo of the world maybe."
Stiletto Magazine, 2007
Vogue Nippon 2007
Le Monde Magazine
A video of Sarah Moon talking about her work
Sarah Moon is represented by Michael Hoppen Gallery, and Renate Gallois Montbrun.
All photographs © Sarah Moon
