Legendary celebrity, fashion and art photographer Albert Watson collaborates with SCAD on his long-overdue first solo exhibition.

What makes an image iconic? Is it the subject—a dazzling celebrity A-lister, a posse of rappers, gorgeous models or a business tycoon—or is it the setting? Or, perhaps, is it out of frame entirely, and iconography lies within the eye of the photographer? Once meeting and seeing the body of work of photographer Albert Watson, the latter has never been more apparent. Presented by Savannah College of Art and Design, Watson’s first-ever solo exhibition, Albert Watson: The Light Behind the Lens, debuted this past January at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, bringing emblematic images of the fashion industry to the forefront. “I’ve always been driven by the pursuit of excellence in photography, but also by how I can improve every time I pick up the camera,” says Watson. “How can I make that next shot more powerful, more interesting, more beautiful and, most importantly, more memorable?”

“Leslie Winer in Yohji Yamamoto, London” (1989) PHOTO BY ALBERT WATSON

“Jack Nicholson, Smoke Mirror, NYC” (1998) PHOTO BY ALBERT WATSON

Whether we realize it or not, we’ve all seen Watson’s images, his subjects ranging from Kate Moss and Andy Warhol to Jack Nicholson and Steve Jobs. Watson started his career shooting for fashion magazines in Los Angeles, moving there aft er studying graphic design and film in his home country of Scotland. Soon he began broadening his portfolio to include celebrity portraits, beauty, still life and fine art. Today, Watson’s images have claimed over 100 Vogue magazine covers worldwide and graced the pages of Time magazine, Rolling Stone and Harper’s Bazaar, presenting larger-than-life images with meticulously manipulated light. Watson single-handedly defined a new era of portraiture, one that elevated what fashion photography could and should be. This first-of-its-kind exhibit with SCAD FASH will feature iconic prints by Watson from his private archive as well as photographs that have never been publicly exhibited. “It is a great honor for SCAD to collaborate on an exhibition dedicated to one of the most influential photographers of all time,” says Rafael Gomes, director of fashion exhibitions at SCAD. “These photographs will provide such inspiration and insight for our SCAD students and alumni, allowing the chance to view work by a true living creative legend.” Through Sept. 5, 1600 Peachtree Road NW, scadfash.org

photographer Albert Watson WATSON PHOTO BY GLORIA RODRIGUEZ

“Kate Moss, Henna Hand, Marrakech” (1993). PHOTO BY ALBERT WATSON