大象传媒

Edinburgh born Albert Watson is one of the world's leading commercial and fashion photographers. Based in the US for over 40 years, he remains as sought-after as ever, and was recently voted as one of the most influential photographers in history. In this film, we follow Albert throughout the course of a day, as he seeks to photograph the barren landscape of the Isle of Skye. Reflecting on his past achievements, we are offered a first-hand insight into his work, and the challenges created by this harsh environment.

Albert developed a love for photography at a young age.聽 鈥淚 had my father鈥檚 Box Brownie in my hand since I was 12, and from that moment鈥�.I knew what I wanted to do鈥�.

He rose to prominence in 1973 following his famous portrait of Alfred Hitchcock holding a dead goose, an early indicator of the bold visual style that was to become his trademark. Since then, he has shot over 100 Vogue covers and created some of the most iconic celebrity images of the twentieth century, from Queen Elizabeth II to Naomi Campbell.

More recently, Albert has moved into fine art photography, documenting landscapes as varied at the Orkney Islands and the Las Vegas desert, while retaining his striking, graphic style.

On the road with his technical team, Albert discusses the difficulties in transferring this unique style onto landscape photography.

鈥淥f course working with models and celebrities is miles away from what I鈥檓 doing here on Skye鈥� Landscape photography isn鈥檛 easy, there are so many factors to deal with鈥� But finding ways to bring my style to landscapes is what I love.鈥�

鈥淎 lot of photographers get sucked into the landscape so that the landscape dominates you. You have to make sure that you dominate the landscape鈥�

The film features Albert using a host of innovative techniques 鈥� from car headlamps to sparklers 鈥� to create the mood he wants. And Albert has no qualms about manipulating nature to get his shots, saying 鈥渨hen Monet鈥檚 painting his lily pond, guess what? Those colours aren鈥檛 exactly what鈥檚 in the lily pond. You鈥檙e doing impressions of things. You鈥檙e creating images鈥�

Perhaps most remarkable is Albert鈥檚 passion for his work, at the age of 71 and after almost 40 years in the job. 鈥淚鈥檓 lucky to be here. As long as you have a camera in your hand or a tripod in front of you, there鈥檚 never a problem".