We sit next to a photo of Coldplay bathing in Santa Monica.
I remember that I lost my camera in the sea that day. The saltwater wasn't kind to it, says Anton Corbijn.
On the walls hang his famous portraits of Annie Lennox, U2, Björk, Depeche Mode, Nelson Mandela, Ai Wei Wei. Coffee helps Anton Corbijn to perk up after a surprise party the night before to celebrate his 70th birthday.
My wife said she would take me on a romantic dinner on a boat but when I got there, all my friends were there, he says with a smile.
“Want to do it for the rest of my life”
Anton Corbijn was born and raised in Holland and took his first pictures on August 28, 1972. The family had just moved to Groningen and a band was playing on the square in town.
I used my father's camera and took nine pictures. They weren't very good but I was robust enough to send six of them to a newspaper, and they published three. I thought wow, I want to do this for the rest of my life.
New mysteries
The exhibition at Fotografiska in Stockholm covers several different periods of his career. From his early years in London as a photographer for NME to more experimental projects, such as Corbijn's fake paparazzi pictures.
With the paparazzi's rise, the mystery disappeared more and more. So I thought I'd create new mysteries and started working as a paparazzi photographer. I put people in certain scenarios and used a camera with a flash. Björk was walking around with a doll somewhere, it looked quite murderous. And Nick Cave as a preacher with a Bible. It was playful in a way, but it also had a deeper meaning.
Corbijn also became a director. Most well-known is his biopic "Control" (2007) about the band Joy Division. He then went on to make thrillers with George Clooney and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
It's the same reason I went from a regular camera to Hasselblad, so I had to think differently about composition. You have to challenge yourself. And if you become successful, it's very easy not to challenge yourself.
Many photographers idolize you, do you have any advice for them?
If you try to copy others, it will never be fantastic or meaningful. You have to find something in your own character that speaks through the camera, says Anton Corbijn.
Kristoffer Viita/TT
Facts: Anton Corbijn
TT
Born: May 20, 1955 in Strijen in Holland (70 years old)
Resides: Amsterdam, Holland.
Occupation: Photographer and director
Career: As a young man, he became obsessed with the band Joy Division and in 1979 moved to England to photograph bands and artists for magazines such as NME, The Face, Rolling Stone and Vogue. He later became a director of music videos and feature films. Most well-known is his biopic "Control" (2007) about the band Joy Division. Corbijn was offered to direct biographical films about Marvin Gaye and Jeff Buckley but did not want to get stuck in a niche and instead made thrillers with George Clooney ("The American") and Philip Seymour Hoffman ("A most wanted man").
Today, he is considered one of the world's top rock star photographers.
Currently with: Jubilee exhibition celebrating 50 years as a photographer at Fotografiska in Stockholm. The exhibition runs from June 13 to October 12, 2025.
Also working on the final production of the film "Switzerland" with Helen Mirren in the role of Patricia Highsmith, which is expected to be released at the end of 2025.
...
Nirvana – They were super good. I mean they are "naturals". The picture was a good combination of three strange guys. I really liked them. They were nice. Kurt was very nice.
...
David Bowie – Bowie is a gentleman and he looks very good, so it was easy in a way. It's hard to take bad pictures of him.
...
Prince – Every time Prince is photographed, it's in a studio or a hotel room with lamps - very controlled. I had to discuss it with him over the phone for a long time because I wanted to do it outdoors. Eventually, he agreed, but I had very little time and had to drive all over Manhattan with him. I had maybe an hour and a half but after all the traveling, it was only five minutes to the actual photography. But I love the picture, there are no other pictures of Prince like it.
