Iconic figures of the 20th century in portraits by Norman Sieff

American portrait photographer Norman Seeff is a classic of world photography. His works are lively, sincere and very technical. Seeff is also the most prolific photo artist. He keeps a separate storage facility in Hollywood just for storing undeveloped films, where the humidity and temperature are optimal for the materials. Just developing this wealth will cost half a million dollars!

Norman Sieff's photo sessions are different from those of other photographers. Each session takes from several hours to a full day. The photographer always talks to his subjects, asks about their careers, ups and downs, plans and dreams. Sieff records these interviews on video and hides them in his famous vault - for future generations.

Siff's heroes didn't just talk to him - they sang, wrote music, improvised, danced, shared personal memories. The master's archive contains thousands of kilometers of film and video tape - more than 500 sessions of shooting with famous people, which complement the photographic materials. Norman Siff himself admits that he shoots so much that he doesn't always have time to look at the footage:

Norman Sieff's career as a photographer began unexpectedly in 1968. He came to New York from South Africa, where he worked as an emergency room doctor. Photography was just a hobby for him and Norman did not think that it would become his calling. In one of the bars, he met the then little-known singer and musician Patti Smith and her friend, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.

Norman Siff offered them a photo shoot and the couple agreed. Then they introduced him to Andy Warhol and designer Bob Kato. After appreciating the photographer's photos, Kato offered him to create a cover for the album "Stage Fright" by the group "The Band". Everyone liked the result and the young photographer began to receive orders.

To be closer to his clients, Norman Siff moved to Los Angeles. He became the creative director of the United Artists Records recording studio, and a little later opened a photo studio on Sunset Boulevard. It became his main creative laboratory and a place for meetings with A-list stars.

Norman Siff is now 85 years old, but he continues to work, and the iconic photographer’s colossal archive continues to grow. In 2017, Network Entertainment launched a television show called “The Sessions Project,” dedicated to the most interesting photo shoots on Sunset Boulevard.

Norman Sieff's photographs are not just portraits, but living stories filled with emotion and meaning. His ability to reveal his subjects makes his work truly unique. What do you think, is technical skill more important for a photographer or the ability to establish emotional contact with a model? Share your opinion in the comments!