Duffy - The Man Who Shot The '60s

The documentary about Brian Duffy (1933-2010) portrayed a history of his work and also an insight into a person who has remained an enigma, never giving interviews or hosting exhibitions. The programme was initiated by his son Chris Duffy after Brian was diagnosed with a degenerative illness. Chris wanted to host an exhibition of his Fathers work and began to film the journey of his Father and what led him to drastically burn all his work at the height of his career.

Duffy began his career as a Fashion Designer after studying Painting and Fashion Design at College, after a few years working as a Fashion Designer he got a job as an Illustrator leading to an interest in Photography, where his career blossomed resulting in him getting a job with the prestigious Vogue.

He became famous for bringing a sense of reality to photographs, changing the perception from the staid and formalised photography of previous decades. Working with David Bailey and Terence Donovan they set to capture the vibrant fashion and celebrity culture of the '60s but Duffy was defiant and liked to work in his own way which although made him an interesting character but also led to altercations with his employer and clients.

After 6 years he began to shoot advertising and promotional photography which led him to question his own values and became bitter towards the clients he was working for, so he decided to go solo. Shooting celebrities worldwide he gained an interest in film, leading him to set up a production company with screenwriter Len Dayton. After making a series of self initiated low budget films he veered back into photography in the 1970s.

In 1973, Duffy was asked to make a calendar with the artist Allen Jones which left Duffy frustrated and dissatisfied, he wanted more control over the final outcome of his work so he set up a company with a young graphic designer, Celia Philo.

He worked on major projects such as commercial campaigns for Benson and Hedges and Smirnoff and many celebrity promotions, although he loved problem solving and working to a brief he again became dissatisfied by the commercial advertising clients he was commissioned by so drastically decided to sack all his staff and set fire to all his work. When later questioned as to why he took such dramatic measures he states "I had nothing else to say in Photography".