Gorman at Xposure: ‘Great annual festival; should enjoy it well’

During the talk, the audience was treated to a visual feast, including some of Greg's most iconic images and a never-before-seen selection of unpublished works. This was a rare opportunity to gain insight into the world of Hollywood through the lens of one of its most skilled photographers.

Gorman’s journey into photography started with a borrowed camera and a chance encounter with the legendary Jimi Hendrix. He soon discovered that what he truly enjoyed was capturing the essence of people through his lens. In 1978, he started experimenting with light and contrast, a style that would culminate in his much-celebrated portrait of Tom Waits 25 years later.

The iconic photographer emphasised the importance of being in the right place at the right time and building a strong team, citing his collaboration with the small eyeglass company, LA Eyeworks, as a turning point in his career. He also shared the story behind his most celebrated picture, the portrait of Andy Warhol, and his work on album covers for artists like David Bowie.

Gorman also revealed that he often ends up favouring the candid moments between main shots, playing with negative space and directional light. His personal work often stems from commercial assignments, and he shared pictures from his book It's Not About Me, including the cover of Grace Jones. “I went back to fifty years of taking pictures and decided to present them to the public from a different point of view”, he noted, explaining his key inspiration for his book.  

In closing, Gorman advised aspiring photographers to always be ready for spontaneous moments, not to over-light, and to start with close-up shots before pulling the camera back. He encouraged them to have a muse, to shoot pictures for themselves, and to always have a “plan B” as “plan A” doesn't always work out.

The seminar proved to be an enlightening and educational experience for photography aficionados, fans of Hollywood, and anyone seeking to delve deeper into one of the world's most iconic industries.