Terry O'Neill

Celebrated for the distinctive aesthetic captured in his shots – unposed, intimate and authentic – Terry O’Neill was a highly acclaimed photographer who rose to prominence with his portrayals of the ‘Swingin’ 60’s’ culture of London and various famous figures. O’Neill initially began as a photographer for an airline and was based at London’s Heathrow Airport – after unwittingly snapping the British Home Secretary sleeping whilst waiting for a flight, O’Neill garnered more attention for his work and was offered a contract with The Daily Sketch – the subject of his first professional photography job was actor, Laurence Olivier. Included among O’Neill’s other famous subjects are The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Brigitte Bardot and the British Royal Family – the shots of the latter received acclaim for the more natural and human side that O’Neill managed to portray, which was contrary to the formal, elite air that the public were accustomed to. Of his ability to capture such natural-feeling photographs of esteemed individuals, O’Neill has stated “I’m a reportage photographer, and I just like fading into the background...The more discrete you are the better off you are.”