An Exclusive Interview With Bowie Photographer Enrique Badulescu

March 26th, 2023 | by Nick

Interviews

Enrique Badulescu is a renowned fashion photographer residing in New York City. To rock music fans however, his name is familiar as the lens behind several album and single sleeves. He has also published a book of his work titled Sueños. In 1995, Enrique shot a fascinating session with David Bowie, which resulted in a plethora of promotional images for the Outside period. Judging by how many times the images were replicated, one can only assume Bowie was highly impressed with the results. Enrique has kindly taken the time to answer our questions as well as sharing previously unseen images!

-Enrique, please tell us where you were born and how you first approached photography.

I was born in Mexico City. Because my dad was a photographer, I was always deeply connected with art and photography.

-Did you receive formal education or did you learn to take photos by instinct?

I studied in the State Academy of Photography (Staatliche Fachakademie für Fotodesign)in Munich, Germany. After I finished my education, I moved to New York City to begin working. I was there for three years and then I moved to London, where my career took off.

-What were your first assignments as a professional photographer?

My first job as a photographer after arriving in London was the album sleeve for “Steel Wheels” by The Rolling Stones, as well as the tour book. I also contributed photos for magazines like “The Face” and “ID” which were quite relevant in Europe mostly, in terms of fashion, music and avant-garde photography.

-What have been some of your most memorable photo shoots and why?

My most memorable sessions were The Rolling Stones album cover, the underwater Hermes campaign in Tahiti and the Tulum session with Kate Moss amongst others.

-Tell us about your leap into fashion photography, your current speciality.

I’d always been facinated by the junction of art and fashion. Music, art and fashion are all connected, the possibilities are endless. The fashion photographer I was inspired by was Guy Bourdin, due to his creativity and use of colour. His concepts and ideas were incredibly original and fun.

-Please tell us how the session with David Bowie came about. How did he reach out to you?

Bowie’s publicist got in touch with my agency Art Partnet in New York to coordinate schedules. Bowie, as well as his record label, were familiar with my work, as I had worked on several album covers and photo shoots with musicians. Amongst them The Rolling Stones, Soul II Soul, Neneh Cherry, Al Green & Jungle Brothers.

-Were you a fan of his music prior to the session? What was your impression about his work?

I had always admired his music as well as his style which I considered quite original and avant-garde. He is a pop cultural icon, in the same ranks as Andy Warhol, The Sex Pistols or The Beatles.

-Please share any recollection you have about the session as well as meeting Bowie for the first time.

The session was lots of fun, it took place at a studio in Tribeca, New York. The ower of the studio is an art collector.

It was a pleasure meeting Bowie. His energy was fantastic and he was a really fun person. The session ran remarkably smoothly and it was full of creativity. It was an unforgettable session and I feel proud I had the opportunity to photograph a worldwide music icon. The result were very unique images, with a very special energy.

-How did you come up with the idea of having Bowie pose on top of a gargoyle? Where did the props come from?

The idea of taking photos of Bowie resting on top of the stone bull’s head was completely spontaneous. The owner of the studio owned collectible sculptures, furniture and motorcycles.

-Did Bowie have a clear vision of what he wanted the photos to be like or did he let himself be guided by your directions?

He came into the session open to ideas. He was willing to follow my creativity and he went with the flow. It was a very spontaneous session. When artists are very creative and original, they tend to collaborate instead of imposing themselves.

-Where were the photos taken?

“Stuart Parr” studio in Tribeca.

-Can you shed some insight into how the photos of Bowie being seen through the shattered glass were accomplished?

I arrived to the session with some objects and accesories. I had purchased two second hand car windshields for the occasion. I’ve always been keen on creating images on clear or reflective surfaces.

-Something that stands out about the photos is how Bowie pays homage to Buñuel and Dalí’s Un Chien Andalou. Was it something that happened spontaneously as your camera clicked?

That was totally on the spot. He was a fan of Buñuel and many other artists. We discussed art at length during the session. He loved to Paint as well.

-What is your favorite image from the session?

Amongst my favorites are the bull head shot, the portrait where one of his painted finger nails is visible and an unseen collage I made.

-Several of your images have been used over the years on a plethora of promotional material such as concert posters, flyers for the Outside album, promos for the release of Outside in Japan, cardboard standees for record stores, magazines and mini posters included in albums and singles (for example, the 1995 German fan club edition of ‘The Hearts Filthy Lesson’ displays the photo of Bowie on the gargoyle). What was it like for you seeing your work all over David Bowie items?

It was incredible to see my images used on so many different formats and in so many countries. That says a lot about how successful the session was. It was a pleasure to do it.

-Have you held on to unreleased images from the session? If so, do you plan to publish them in the future?

I believe there are unseen images still. When you work on a photo shoot for promotional purposes it’s hard to know how many images were published, through which meadi, and in which countries. At that time I was traveling a lot and even though my agency took care of the use of the photos, it was still difficult to have all the information regarding which ones got published, as it was a worldwide use. I would be open to sharing the unseen photos, depending on the platform.

-Are prints of your photos available for purchase? If so, where can they be ordered?

Yes, prints can be acquired through my website as well as through different galleries. My website is under construction at the moment though, being rehauled with a new artistic direction and new content.

-Have you considered participating in any photo exhibtion, book or event related to David Bowie?

I would love to. I enjoy participating in events. I was involved in a Project with Kate Moss for Christie’s in London and with Julio Galán in the Rufino Tamayo museum.

-What are your current projects and how can people support your work?

My current projects are a book for Louis Vuitton in Tulum, an exhibition of my collages including my images with David Bowie, Kate Moss and Hermes and possibly, another book.