Thread by @thetimes

In the Nineties, there was one photographer, @davidbenett, who was always in the right place, at the right time, writes @chedwardes
thetimes.co.uk/article/up-clo…

When Benett arrives to meet Edwardes, there are explosions of his name from all corners. “Dave! Dave!” a man waves vigorously, another pumps his hand, a woman blows a kiss. 💋

This is striking

For the early part of his 30-year career, it was Dave Benett calling the names, restrained by metal barriers, perhaps, or a bouncer’s arm.

🗣️ “Diana!” “Kate!” “Naomi!” “Liz!” The prize was a split-second glance, enough to “bang off a couple of frames”

He is most famous for his shot of Liz Hurley, head thrown back, taking a step in that Versace pinned dress.

But there are thousands more...
🤩 Carla Bruni
🤩 Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone
🤩 Nicole Kidman and Dustin Hoffman

The list goes on to include Nelson Mandela to Michael Jackson to Jay-Z and Beyoncé to Jack Nicholson and Sharon Stone. 🌟

Long before he did stars, he was a news photographer. 🗣️“I did Dennis Nilsen, ‘Eyes of a Killer’, remember that? That was my picture. Front page of The Sun”

📸 Hiding behind his camera, he watched the world rotate. He saw the frenzy over Princess Diana, whom he met a few times, and definitely did not chase anywhere

He witnessed the birth of Cool Britannia, shimmering Kate and shimmering Naomi, Britpop, YBAs; Tracey Emin being nominated for the Turner Prize. God, he loved those days. The excesses were extreme, the people were cool, the photographers had power.

So what changed?

“Mobile phones,” Benett says. “Terrible things.”📵

🗣️“How can you be ‘extravagant’, shall we call it, when someone can photograph it? Because even a dodgy phone picture is enough. Let alone video”

Plus, social media changed fame and now everyone wants to be seen.

A photograph of a celebrity went from being worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds to “two or three quid” today 💸

Benett's introduction to photography was getting a job as a “lad” – “That’s the kid that wipes the floors, learns how to develop the black and white, cleans the prints and then runs with the printed picture to the papers” 📰

When asked if he had an “eye” back in the day he says:

🗣️ “I’m not too much of a believer in ‘talent’. You get really good at what you do. And then the job gets good to you… People go, ‘Wow, what an amazing picture.’ They read much more into it”

The Dave Benett exhibition 'Great Shot, Kid' is at @JDMalat in London from February 17 to March 8.

Read the full story and see more of Benett's nostalgic pictures👇
thetimes.co.uk/article/up-clo…