Magnum Blog / Paolo Pellegrin's Great Performers

Paolo Pellegrin's Great Performers

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© Paolo Pellegrin/Magnum Photos On assignment for the New York Times Magazine, Paolo Pellegrin photographed eight of the contenders for Academy Awards. The intensity and honesty Pellegrin draws from his subjects is striking and gives you a sense of the raw strength they each possess away from the glitz and the glamour and without the makeup and costumes. The result is a stunning set of portraits of Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, Mickey Rourke, Robert Downey Jr., and Kat Dennings. Links » Watch a slideshow on the New York Times website » Paolo Pellegrin's Magnum Portfolio » Paolo Pellegrin's books (From the Magnum Store)

Timothy Hughes

Very nice photography. Has a very modern look and the lighting draws the viewer into the frame.

Hugh Gage

There's something odd about the 4th shot of Kate Winslet where she appears to be looking in a mirror with Paolo Pelegrin taking the shot over her left shoulder. Firstly he seems to be right on her left shoulder but he is not reflected in the mirror, the angle is difficult to tell so there may be a good explanation for that. secondly her hair is down on her left side whereas in the mirror it appears to reflect that her hair is down on her right side.

The shadowing to the left of "the mirror" is what I think makes it looks like a mirror but I could be wrong.

All probably explicable but none-the-less odd.

Hugh Gage

The shadowing to the left of "the mirror" is what I think makes it looks like a mirror but I could be wrong.

All probably explicable but none-the-less odd.

Brian C. Frank

Hugh, I don't think that's a mirror shot. I think he was shooting over the shoulder of someone else.

Suzanne

Funny... I thought she was standing next to a highly reflective window at night... or perhaps with some outside shutter closed. Anyway, he uses windows and mirrors beautifully. Great stuff... thanks for posting it.

Yogan

Timeless.

david bowen

whoooah.. what a superb commission to receive..

impressed with the natural feel of the photographs.. not that easy at all with people who have been heavily photographed in the last..

david

Peter Cleghorn

Dear Meagan,

Any chance of Paolo writing a bit on the blog about these shots and the shoots as they are superb and more like the older magnum film star shots in there closeness?

Many thanks,

Pete

sam bedford

Images with reverence, style, star dust and magic. I keep coming back to this happy to self critical appraisal and just like it.

Steve Thurow

I'd love to hear how about how much access he received, how many days he had with each subject and any and all experiences Paolo would be willing to share.

bobblack

loved it when i saw it run in the Times....still dig it...Paolo still a magician with glass-darkly....be it mirrors, windows, grain or shadows, but in work that made him his 'name' and this kind of assignment....the shape of shifting shadows....

lovely stuff :)

hkki

impressive photo

John

Celebrity photography. Well executed, but hardly relevatory. Celebs give what they want to give, and it's always taken a hell of a photographer (and hell of an ego) to get beyond that. I honestly don't see anything "beyond" in these photos.

paolo

John, i think reporters nowadays, most of them, are above all interested in the fiction they can get from reality.
In this case also the subjects of the pictures, the actors, where not interested in showing any real life: instead they have to play their role both in and out of the movie.
So, one and the others pursued the fiction of their own art with great ability and in good accordance. A sort of gentlemen's agreement i guess.

t.f.

All eight pairs of pictures show a common theme -- the tough side and the soft side of each celebrity. Mr. Pellegrin didn't miss a chance of showing this theme. Pic 1 -- a dangerous and smart man, putting his back against the bright sunlight. Pic 2 -- the same person, but a family man paying great attention to prepare a meal.

Pic 3 -- a lady almost covered up by soft materials, contrasting with the rough brick wall. she looks vulnerable. Pic 4 -- she comes out shinning and brave.

Pic 5, another dangerous man. smoking is ban in bed in hotels. he dared to go against the rules. But Pic 6. shows he is just a self-loving simple boy and as vulnerable as a yellow flower.

Pic 7 -- the two faces of Winslet. On the left hand side of the viewer, the brighter half of her is strong like steel, with sharp contour. The dimmer half of her is surprisingly more human, even a little bid sad. Pic 8 -- playing up her weaker side. a girl being taken care of by more than one assistant. Someone tried to cover her face against the sunlight. And she folded arms looked cold, needing protection.

Pic 9 -- again another dangerous and smart man. in a religious environment suggested by the wall picture, biting his own sunglass. something people seldom do in church. His make-up suggested he might be a criminal being "wanted", so he had to hide his real identity. He didn't look like Brad Pitt, at first glance. (Oh why, all sexy man must be dangerous.) Pic 10 -- he was not that dangerous, when he showed off his big, tearful eyes.

Pic 11 -- A drunk man after a show, vulnerable. Pic 12 -- hush.

Pic 13 -- a business man, with a fatherly smile. Pic 14 -- Again, the photographer used a glass to soft him a bit, became a great lover, tanned.

Pic 15 -- glass again brought softening effect. The red hat highlighted her soft red lips. Pic 16 -- cold face.

I learn a lot from these pictures. Thank you for posting them.

roentarre

I am so glad to discover this website. Excellent image and I am amazed!

A

I think many of these photographs are staged, acted - like picture 11, and most of them seem to makeups on. i don't see what are so profound about them?

Fox

So impressive photos. Impossible to imitate. Was Paolo invisible?
Could I have a telephone number of a Hollywood's star? I would like to try.
Great!

jesus

Paolo , you are a great photographer .

Fox

What about costs and organization of Magnum about this? My compliments to Magnum's P.R. agents.

Andrew

I found these photographs a refreshing departure from the usual approach to celebrity portraiture. Like others who have commented on this post, I would be interested to hear some information about the project that hasn't already been published. It would be great to know why Paolo was chosen specifically, for example.

Davin Ellicson

I love the desaturated color. It used to be that color only meant the saturated look of transparency film or the more muted effects of some color negative films. Now, recent software programs allow for much more exploration!

Curtis

Great composition and color. Love the use of subdued lighting. Definitely emotionally evocative. Thanks for sharing Paolo!

Curtis