Bruce Weber (photographer)
Bruce Weber | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 29, 1946 Greensburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Photographer, filmmaker |
| Known for | Fashion photography, documentary filmmaking |
| Notable work | Let's Get Lost, Chop Suey |
Bruce Weber (born March 29, 1946) is a prominent American photographer and filmmaker, celebrated for his contributions to fashion photography and his collaborations with major brands and editorial publications.
Among his directorial works are the 1988 documentary Let's Get Lost, which profiles jazz trumpeter Chet Baker, and the 2001 film Chop Suey, focusing on a wrestler's life. Let's Get Lost earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature and won the Cinecritica Award at the Venice Film Festival. Weber also established and co-owns Little Bear Press, a publishing house responsible for books and the independent arts periodical All-American.
Weber has faced allegations of sexual misconduct from over twenty models, resulting in three lawsuits, all of which concluded with settlements. He currently lives in Miami and is married to Nan Bush, who also serves as his agent.
Life and work
Born into a Jewish family in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Weber began gaining recognition in the late 1970s with fashion photography published in GQ magazine, frequently appearing on its covers. His partner and agent, Nan Bush, secured a contract for him with Federated Department Stores to photograph the 1978 Bloomingdales mail catalog. Weber rose to widespread prominence during the late 1980s and early 1990s through his advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein. Initially invited by Klein to shoot an underwear campaign, Weber drew creative influence from Herbert List's Santorini photo sessions. His candid black-and-white images—depicting a nude couple on a swing, two clothed men sharing a bed, and model Marcus Schenkenberg provocatively holding jeans in the shower—brought both himself and Klein significant attention. One of his most iconic photographs is of Olympic athlete Tom Hintnaus clad only in white briefs for Calvin Klein. Additionally, Weber shot the winter 2006 collection for Ralph Lauren.
Weber’s early fashion work included a controversial series published in the SoHo Weekly News, showcasing men exclusively in underwear. This body of work generated significant debate and led some critics to predict that Weber’s career in fashion photography would be jeopardized. Reflecting on this period, Weber has noted that many magazines avoid commissioning his style due to its perceived riskiness.
Following extensive shoots with celebrities—many of whom appeared in Andy Warhol's Interview—Weber ventured into filmmaking with shorts such as Broken Noses, depicting teenage boxers; films featuring his beloved dogs; and later, the longer feature Chop Suey. His acclaimed documentary Let's Get Lost chronicles the life of jazz musician Chet Baker.
While most of Weber’s photography is presented in black-and-white or muted tones, occasional color images appear throughout his published collections like A House is Not a Home, as well as Bear Pond and Gentle Giants, both dedicated to photographs of his dogs.
In the mid-1980s, Weber began working with singer Chris Isaak, photographing him for Isaak’s 1986 self-titled album. He later captured a shirtless Isaak in bed for a fashion editorial in Rolling Stone. Isaak also appeared in Let's Get Lost, and Weber directed one of his music videos. Additionally, Weber photographed Harry Connick, Jr. for his 1991 album Blue Light, Red Light and captured singer-songwriter Jackson Browne for the 1993 release I'm Alive.
His advertising portfolio includes campaigns for prestigious clients such as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, the Pirelli calendar, Abercrombie & Fitch, Revlon, Miu Miu, Armani, Louis Vuitton, and Gianni Versace. Editorially, his work has been featured in leading magazines including Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Elle, Life, Interview, and Rolling Stones.
Museums and Libraries
Weber's artwork is showcased in leading museums internationally, where he frequently collaborates closely with curator and art director Dimitri Levas to bring his concepts to fruition. His recent solo exhibitions include Far From Home at Dallas Contemporary (2016), Detroit: Bruce Weber at the Detroit Institute of Arts (2012), and Haiti/Little Haiti (2010) at the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami.
Filmmaking
Weber’s filmmaking process, which encompasses five feature-length films, typically originates from a photographic session. He explained to the Sunday Times of London in 2008, "All my films start by finding someone I want to photograph."
Broken Noses (1987)
During a 1984 photoshoot for Interview Magazine featuring Olympic boxing hopefuls, Weber encountered Andy Minsker, a young boxer from Oregon, and began recording interviews with him. Initially planning a short film to complement an exhibition in Paris, Weber became captivated by the footage and decided to expand it into a full-length documentary. The resulting film, Broken Noses (1987), was nominated for the Grand Jury Award at Sundance in 1988.
Let's Get Lost (1988)
While finishing Broken Noses, Weber met jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker and started filming him, intending initially to create a short film based on their portrait session. However, filming extended throughout the Cannes presentation of Broken Noses, culminating in Weber assembling footage of Baker’s travels, studio sessions, and interviews into his second feature-length film, Let's Get Lost (1988). Premiering at the Venice Film Festival where it won the Cinecritica award, the documentary was later nominated for both a Grand Jury Award at Sundance and an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Weber described his approach to filming Baker as akin to “his interpretation of a song, open-ended, not lyrical or strict.” The film juxtaposes Baker's vibrant 1950s prime with his later life marked by drug addiction—portrayed as gaunt yet still captivating. Weber likened Baker to “a geyser in a national park,” erupting intensely but ultimately collapsing upon those around him.
Chop Suey (2001)
Released in 2001, Chop Suey presents a multifaceted portrait of wrestler Peter Johnson. The Sunday Times of London characterized it as "an aesthetic autobiography," reflecting on Weber’s influences and heroes. A contemporary review in The New York Times noted the film’s fluid movement between video and film formats as well as black-and-white and color imagery, capturing Weber’s exploration of a world rich with beauty and eroticism. Among its notable subjects is 91-year-old Sir Wilfred, a former desert explorer whose photographs of Bedouin tribesmen prefigure Weber’s own photographic style.
A Letter to True (2004)
In 2004, following the events of 9/11, Weber released the impressionistic anti-war film A Letter to True, dedicated to one of his cherished golden retrievers. Described as an 'audiovisual scrapbook,' the film features Weber reflecting on treasured individuals, memories, and concepts. According to a review in the Sunday Times, Weber is portrayed as an unabashed sentimentalist who regards dogs as symbols of domestic happiness and values home security amid the anxiety provoked by the attacks.
The Treasure of His Youth (2022)
Weber’s fifth feature documentary centers on Paolo Di Paolo, an esteemed Italian photojournalist who was 94 years old when filming commenced. The film explores Di Paolo’s photographic legacy through Weber’s lens.
Short films
The Robert Mitchum project titled Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast, still in progress during its screening at the New York Film Festival in 2017, represents one of Weber’s ongoing works. Additionally, he has directed seven short films: Beauty Brothers, Parts I-IV (1987), Backyard Movie (1991), Gentle Giants (1994), The Teddy Boys of the Edwardian Drape Society (1995), Wine and Cupcakes (2007), The Boy Artist (2008), and Liberty City is Like Paris to Me (2009).
Sexual assault allegations
In December 2017, model Jason Boyce initiated a lawsuit against Weber in the New York State Supreme Court, accusing him of sexual assault, which included unwanted touching and kissing during a casting session in 2014. The complaint also named Jason Kanner of Soul Artist Management, who was Boyce's manager at the time of the alleged incidents, as well as Little Bear Inc., the production company run by Weber’s partner, Nan Bush. In the same month, another model, Mark Ricketson, publicly shared similar allegations and joined Boyce's legal action against Weber.
Weber has refuted these accusations, telling The New York Times that the claims were "false" and insisting he had "never touched anyone improperly."
By January 2018, The New York Times reported on sexual assault allegations made by 15 male models against Weber.
In early 2019, reports emerged that Weber sought to have Boyce’s original lawsuit dismissed after presenting evidence showing that the model had sent provocative photographs and messages before and after their photo sessions.
By 2020, the lawsuits filed by the plaintiffs encountered notable challenges. In June of that year, Lisa Bloom, a prominent attorney representing several of Weber’s accusers, was ordered to reimburse Weber $28,000 in legal fees after Boyce declined to answer specific deposition questions.
As of September 2021, all three lawsuits against Weber had either been dismissed or resolved through confidential settlements.
On 3 April 2024, The Hollywood Reporter featured an interview with Alan Ritchson, star of the Reacher series, who reflected on past allegations involving Weber and Mario Testino as detailed by The New York Times:
Some of the stories were just like mine. I was just starting to build a platform and get my voice in the business, and I wondered, ‘Should I say something?’ Because all of the stories that those models were telling were my own. It’s all true.
Personal life
Bruce Weber is married to Nan Bush, who not only serves as his agent but also collaborates closely with him.
In a 2002 conversation, Weber reflected, "I've experienced many wonderful relationships. Both with men and women—I feel capable of falling in love almost daily. I pity those who never experience that feeling."
Since 1998, he has made Miami his home.
Films
| Year | Title | Duration | Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Broken Noses | 75:00 | Andy Minsker |
| Beauty Brothers (Parts I-IV) | 12:26 | Paul Dillon, Brian Dillon, Tim Dillon, Rodney Harvey, Maya Oloe | |
| 1988 | Let's Get Lost | 119:25 | Chet Baker, Chris Isaak, William Claxton, Flea, Lisa Marie, Rodney Harvey |
| 1991 | Backyard Movie | 8:55 | |
| 1994 | Gentle Giants | 14:35 | |
| 1995 | The Teddy Boys of the Edwardian Drape Society | 3:45 | Tobey Maguire |
| 2000 | Chop Suey | 94:00 | Peter Johnson, Robert Mitchum, Diana Vreeland, Frances Faye, Jan-Michael Vincent |
| 2003 | A Letter to True | 78:00 | Julie Christie (narrator), Marianne Faithfull (narrator), Dirk Bogarde, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Smith, Tully Jensen |
| 2006 | The Legend of True | 11:35 | |
| A Tribute To The Delta Society | 2:23 | ||
| Best Friends | 3:44 | ||
| 2007 | Wine and Cupcakes | 12:10 | Angela McCluskey, Paul Cantelon |
| 2008 | Looking for Chet, Again, In All The Familiar Places | 25:00 | |
| The Boy Artist | 9:00 | ||
| You Feel Me? | 3:36 | ||
| 2009 | Liberty City Is Like Paris To Me | 16:00 | |
| 2014 | Iris | 79:00 | Iris Apfel |
| 2022 | The Treasure of His Youth: The Photographs of Paolo Di Paolo | 105:00 | Paolo Di Paolo |
| All-American' Documentary Series | (In progress) | ||
| Nice Girls Don't Stay For Breakfast: Robert Mitchum Documentary, Paolo Di Paolo Documentary (In progress) | (In progress) | ||
| CZ Guest Documentary project | (In progress) |
Music videos
In 1990, Weber took the helm as director for the music video of the Pet Shop Boys track "Being Boring". The video features a lively gathering of models from various backgrounds. Shot in a single day using two film crews, the production took place inside a residence on Long Island. Due to the inclusion of both male and female nudity, the video was banned from airing on MTV within the United States. Later, in 1996, Weber directed another Pet Shop Boys video for their single "Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)", which was filmed at Wet 'n' Wild, a water park located near Orlando, Florida. In 2002, he returned to direct the music video for "I Get Along", a song from the Release album, capturing footage at his Little Bear studio situated in New York City. Additionally, Weber directed the music video for Chris Isaak's "Blue Spanish Sky".Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
| Year | Song Title | Length | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Everything Happens to Me | 3:42 | Chet Baker | Let's Get Lost (Soundtrack album) |
| 1990 | Being Boring | 4:55 | Pet Shop Boys | Behaviour |
| 1991 | Blue Spanish Sky | 4:13 | Chris Isaak | Wicked Game |
| 1996 | Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is) | 4:50 | Pet Shop Boys | Bilingual |
| 2002 | I Get Along | 5:46 | Pet Shop Boys | Release |
| Light My Fire | 3:44 | Will Young | From Now On |
Little Bear Press
Bruce and his spouse, Nan, established the publishing label Little Bear Press. Beyond producing monographs and exhibition catalogs, they have also released an independent arts periodical named All-American. While some editions have been issued by other publishers, the majority of the series is published under Little Bear Press. The All-American journal features contributions from artists, photographers, essayists, poets, and various other creatives. Often, the journal highlights individuals who may not be widely recognized but whose narratives or achievements offer insights that Bruce Weber believes will deeply resonate with readers on a personal level. His commitment to the All-American initiative stems from a passion to engage, motivate, and promote emerging artistic talent.
| Year | Title | Publisher | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | A Film Journal by Bruce Weber | Little Bear Films (U.S.) |
Published alongside the feature film Let's Get Lost |
| 1990 | Sam Shepard by Bruce Weber | Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Monograph focusing on Sam Shepard featuring Jessica Lange |
| 1999 | Shu Fly | Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Monograph |
| 2001 | All-American | Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
First installment of the "All-American" series |
| 2002 | All-American II: Short Stories |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Second volume in the "All-American" series |
| Mothers Days:
Imogen Cunningham |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
A compilation mainly featuring works from the 1920s and 30s by female photographer Imogen Cunningham | |
| 2003 | All-American III: Family Albums |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Third edition of the "All-American" series |
| Thank Your Lucky Stars: John R. Hamilton |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
An insider's view of Hollywood celebrity through the lens of veteran photographer John R. Hamilton. Foreword by Peter Bogdanovich | |
| Like a Moth:
Jim French |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Collection of 1972 nude studies by pioneering male-figure photographer Jim French featuring model David Skrivanek | |
| 2004 | All-American IV: Otherworldly |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Fourth volume in the "All-American" series |
| 2005 | All-American V: Is Love Enough? |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Fifth book in the "All-American" collection |
| 2006 | All-American VI: Larger Than Life |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Sixth installment of the "All-American" series |
| People I May Know
Johnny Dark |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
A hybrid memoir and travelogue authored by Johnny Dark | |
| 2007 | All-American VII: 'Til I Get It Right - An Anthem For The South |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Seventh volume in the "All-American" series |
| Live Here, Rent Free | Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Monograph | |
| 2008 | All-American VIII: Nature's Way |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Eighth edition of the "All-American" series |
| 2009 | All-American IX: A Near-Perfect World |
Little Bear Press (U.S.) |
Ninth book in the "All-American" collection |
| 2010 | '‘'All-American X: Written In The Stars'’' |
'‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.)'’' |
'‘'Tenth volume in the "All-American" series'’' |
| '‘'2011'’' | '‘'All-American Volume 11: Just Life'’' |
'‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.)'’' |
'‘'Eleventh installment of the "All-American" series'’' |
| '‘'2014'’' | '‘'Detroit Has Been Good to Me'’' | '‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.)'’' |
'‘'Monograph'’' |
| 2016 '’' | '‘'All-American Volume 16: Wild Blue Yonder '’' |
'‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.) '’' |
'‘'Sixteenth book in the "All-American" collection '’' |
| '‘'Far From Home '’' | '‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.) '’' |
'‘'Dallas Contemporary '’' | |
| '2017 '’' | '‘'All-American Volume 17: Glory Be '’' | '‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.) '’' |
'‘'Seventeenth edition of the "All-American" series '’' |
| 2018 '’' | '‘'All-American Volume 18: Facing The World '’' |
'‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.) '’' |
'‘'Eighteenth volume of the "All-American" series '’' |
| '‘'Azzedine Bruce Joe '’' | '‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.) '’' |
'‘'Foundation Azzedine Alaia '’' | |
| '‘'"Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast" Film Journal '’' | '‘'Little Bear Films (France only) '’' |
'‘'La Rabbia '’' | |
| '2019 '’' | '‘'All-American Volume 19
No Small Thing, Desire '’' |
'‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.) '’' |
'‘'Nineteenth book in the All-American series '’' |
| '2020 '’' | '‘'All-American Volume 20: Coming Home '’' | '‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.) '’' |
'‘'Twentieth edition of the All-American collection '’' |
| '2021 '’' | '‘'All-American Volume 21
Time Will Tell '’' |
'‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.) '’' |
'‘'Twenty-first book in the All-American series '’' |
| '2022 '’' | '‘'All-American Volume 22: The Towering Feeling '’' | '‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.) '’' |
'‘'Twenty-second volume in the All-American collection '’' |
| '2023 '’' | '‘'All-American Volume 23: Let's Take an Old Fashioned Walk '’' | '‘'Little Bear Press (U.S.) '’' |
'‘'Twenty-third book in the All-American series '’ |
Additional Publications
- Rolling Stone: The Photographs, Simon & Schuster (1989)
- Pictures Of Peace, Alfred A. Knopf (1991)
- Bruce Hainley and David Rimanelli, Shock of the Newfoundland: Bruce Weber's canine camera, "Artforum International 33" (April 1995), pp. 78–81
- Il Tempo E La Moda, Skira; Exhibition Catalogue: "Biennale Firenze" (1996)
- Gianni Versace, Rock and Royalty, Abbeville (February 1997)
- David Leddick, The Male Nude, Taschen, New York (1998)
- Pirelli Calendar 1964–2004, Rizzoli (2004)
- Heel To Heal (2004)
- Paintings of New York, 1800–1950 (2005)
- Monica Bellucci, Rizzoli (2010)
- Kate Moss, Rizzoli (2012)
References
External links
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- 1946 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American photographers
- 21st-century American LGBTQ people
- 21st-century American photographers
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- American documentary film directors
- American erotic photographers
- American fashion photographers
- American LGBTQ photographers
- American music video directors
- American people of Jewish descent
- Bisexual photographers
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- LGBTQ people from Florida
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- People from Greensburg, Pennsylvania
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