By Brittany Knupper
It all began with a Brownie box camera on a frosty Christmas morning. Young Douglas Kirkland was entrusted to take the family holiday photo. He recalls: “I was only allowed to take one exposure… It was that first click that determined my destiny.”
That single click began a career that would span over fifty years. From celebrity photography to documentaries, Douglas Kirkland photography has crossed almost every genre. As he says: “There still is nothing I don’t want to photograph.”
By his side for the majority of his career has been his wife and business partner, Françoise. They met in Paris in 1965 while he was photographing Audrey Hepburn. Since then, they have lived, worked, and played together.
Physical Poetry Alphabet
Their latest project, Physical Poetry Alphabet, goes back to the roots of Western humanity. This book is a collaborative effort between Kirkland, his wife Françoise, and dancer [Link to Erika Lemay site]Erika Lemay[/Link].
Described as a “modern-day abecedarium,” the book celebrates design. It is inspired by the corporeal origins of the Western alphabet and the famous Art Deco illustrations of Erte. Alongside the captivating photography, the book includes “backstage” essays about its making.
Françoise approached Douglas with the idea as an 81st birthday present. Although initially skeptical, Douglas dove into the project. Together, they booked “air dancer” Erika Lemay and fashion director Simone Guidarelli.
A Group Effort
According to the Kirklands, everyone involved contributed in a major way. It took almost three years to complete the book. While the actual shooting only took a week, the process of creating each letter required immense care.
They worked with Sylph Editions, based out of London. The couple notes: “We could not have found a better home for this whimsical body of work.” Their goal was to create a colorful, joyful exploration of language. Ultimately, they want to bring our words back into our bodies.
Never Stop Evolving
Douglas Kirkland is a firm believer that you can’t ever stop evolving. He states: “You have to keep pushing yourself. You are only as good as your last picture.”
True to his word, they aren’t stopping here. Future projects include fashion shoots for Italian magazines and a retrospective at the Palos Verdes Art Center. Additionally, there are traveling exhibits planned all over Europe.
The book is available through Amazon and many bookstores now. A Collectors Edition is also available through the publisher.
