A lot of shit happens backstage. More often than not, that’s where the real partying goes down – the unbridled, inhibition-less raging that celebrities can only indulge in away from the public eye. And generally speaking, when inhibitions are at a low, candid photogenics are at a high, something that New York-based self-taught photographer Roxanne Lowit apparently knows well.
In the late ’70s, Lowit got her start by stealthily sneaking backstage at Parisian fashion shows and documenting her findings, which usually came in the form of candid yet glamourous photos of all the major models and celebrity attendees – people like Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger, and Salvador Dali. Yeah, not exactly small names, right?
But fast forward a few years and Lowit established herself as one of the most sought after and venerable fashion photographers out there, constantly shooting for the likes of Dior, Vivian Westwood, Vogue, Elle, and all the other super-prestigious clients. Nowadays, people tend to say she’s as much of a celebrity as those she’s photographing – a description she perhaps shares only with a couple heavy hitters like Annie Leibovitz and Mario Testino.
Her beautifully candid photos, which place the emphasis on spontaneity and fun, are distinctly her own. And while all of her work is undoubtedly amazing (there’s a reason Vogue continually hires her, duh), it’s her vintage black and white party photos that stand out; they maintain that rare quality of actually making you feel like you’re in on the action rather than just being some weird voyeuristic creep on the outside.
More at
roxannelowit.com.