Peter Lindbergh’s photographs were beautiful, soulful and sometimes tinged with an alluring sense of melancholy. There’s Amber Valetta as the angel fallen on Times Square, and Linda Evangelista lifting across the moody streets of New York, both captured for Liz Tilberis’ memorable Harper’s Bazaar; model Michaela Bercu, smiling on Anna Wintour’s first American Vogue cover in Christian Lacroix couture and jeans, and Naomi Campbell doing her best Josephine Baker-meets-Eartha Kitt character while lip-synching C’est Si Bon in Dumbo. And who can forget the British Vogue cover featuring Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford and Tatjana Patitz dressed in Giorgio di Sant’ Angelo bodysuits – which inspired George Michael to cast this crew of supes for his groundbreaking Freedom ’90 video?
There’s so much more. Lindbergh, who died Tuesday at the age of 74, shaped fashion photography for the past four decades. His unique perspective demonstrated a respect for his subjects and their imperfections, rendering exceptionally beautiful and expressive images.
“When Peter Lindbergh shoots, it’s about the women,” Cindy Crawford wrote on her Instagram Wednesday. “It’s not about the hair, makeup, or styling, really. He had a way of turning your imperfections into something unique and beautiful.”
Amber Valletta called him “a great master,” whose “kindness, generosity, humor, soulfulness, compassion, and extraordinary talent to see the world with heart leaves us all with more beauty and hope.”
In 2013, Lindbergh lensed the CFDA Awards Journal under the creative direction of Trey Laird, photographic stunning portraits of nominees such as Marc Jacobs, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, Irene Neuwirth, Alexander Wang, Jennifer Meyer, and Thom Browne, as well as models like Miranda Kerr, Erin Wasson, and Kristen McMenamy in looks by the designers.
Click through the gallery to view the designer portraits.
“He was an amazing family man, always positive and gentle,” Claudia Schiffer, who shared her German roots with the photographer, said. “Never played games – he was straightforward and honest. He loved women and made everyone look beautiful. I will miss him.”
