Irving Penn
Part of my 2025 blueprint is to practice photographing my own still life imagery. Working with chefs and food stylists, we have BIG plans for our imagery and like all modest artists I went straight to my carefully curated Pinterest board of Irving Penns still life for inspiration. (This is clearly how my first soiree into food photography will look)
Irving Penn was one of the greatest photographers of the Twentieth Century. My first introduction to his imagery was his extensive work for Vogue. Working in the fashion industry, there aren’t many shoot mood boards without a nod to Penns work.
But since I moved into pattern design and textiles I’ve fallen deeply in love with his food and still life photography.
From the first breath of this business I always knew that perfectly set tables, flawless flower arrangements and untouched tableware were not for me. I vowed Nic Brittin imagery would always be filled with the sense of good meals, longs lunches, family and friends, naughty jokes, maybe some drunk singing.
Penns work, for me, embodies this. Messy, touched, sometimes a bit gross.
So in short, I’m writing this not to give you a biography of Irving Penn but to make sure everyone can love his still life as much as me. These images make me want to have been there, experienced whatever had just happened. I want to squeeze this mozzarella ball and dip my fingers into the brie at the bottom of this article.
This photo embodies how every long dinner should end. At least one person had their car keys taken off them and a cab called. Someone probably had a tinkle on the ivories and the pudding was definitely delicious.
So yes, Irving Penn is world renowned for his Fashion, Beauty, Nude and even War photography but my heart lies with his still life.
Watch out 2025, Nic Brittin is melting some cheese, dropping some cakes, breaking some eggs and staining some linen. All in the name of imperfect tablescapes.
Love,
Nic
x
Subscribed