"I shot this for Calvin in Santa Barbara. The man who's stepping off the horse comes from a very famous stunt family who worked in the movies. They were all such great characters who never got to be the center of attention, because when doing stunts they're always looking away or filmed from a distance. They were so fun to work with, super goofy.
I sent the photos in to Calvin. Well, let's just say I don't think he ever imagined wool trousers and cashmere sweaters being shot this way. For any client, you're always trying to do better than expected, but sometimes what you think that is and what they think it is are two very different things. Thankfully, Calvin liked these as I remember his business partner at the time, Barry Schwartz, really connected with them because Barry raises horses and has an absolutely beautiful stable.
With a situation like this one, I tried not to direct the models too much. I just kind of went with it, dove into the swimming pool. On some level I didn't know what the hell I was doing or what I would get, but I knew the stunt guys were super talented and had great energy.
With a situation like this one, I tried not to direct the models too much. I just kind of went with it, dove into the swimming pool. On some level I didn't know what the hell I was doing or what I would get, but I knew the stunt guys were super talented and had great energy.
When moments like this happen, when I'd have an incredible experience like this and then get the box of contact sheets back from the lab a few days later and flip through them and see a frame like this one, where the bodies and the limbs and the expressions all lined up and the clothes just looked just right in a magical way, I'd think, "Wow, I'm a lucky guy. I can't believe that happened!" Photography is a gift you're given. That element of surprise discovering an image like this among so many taken on the same day that didn't work at all, that's the feeling of a kid on Christmas day."
Bruce Weber
16 September 2022
