The Japanese Photographer Who Captured David Bowie’s Ethereal Beauty
On the occasion of his 83rd birthday, The Daily Beast exclusively presents a collection of images from the renowned music and fashion photographer Masayoshi Sukita.
“From the moment I was born into this world until today, I have been living with time,” said Masayoshi Sukita. “One day, when I was in high school, my mother bought me a camera and I discovered that there is another ‘time.’ Photography is the ‘eternal time.’ I believe that the power of photography is to mark time. I wonder how much more ‘eternal time’ I can acquire in my remaining time...”
For the past six decades, Sukita, who turns 83 today, has produced some of the most eye-catching and memorable photographs ever—from the iconic cover image for David Bowie’s album Heroes, kicking off a four-decade partnership between the two artists, to images of other counterculture-movement icons like Iggy Pop, Marc Bolan, David Sylvan, and those of the Jim Jarmusch film Mystery Train.
On June 14, Sukita and ACC Art Books will release Sukita: Eternity, a coffee table book of his most memorable photographs, from his early days as a high-fashion photographer in Tokyo to his collaborations with some of the most legendary musical artists of the 20th century.
Here are a selection of images from Sukita: Eternity, available exclusively at The Daily Beast: