'Austin Reed Rome 1976', photographed by Jim Lee in 1976, possibly in Rome, printed by Brigida Mendes at the RCA, London, 2006.

Colour fashion photograph showing male models diving into a sulphur pool with naked female models in the foreground, advertising campaign for Austin Reed, Jim Lee 1976. The photograph was taken on a Nikon F camera with a 50mm lens using GAF film normally rate at 400 asa, to create the large grain and contrast in the image the film was rated at 3400 asa.

Given by Jim Lee

This photograph was an advertising commission to sell swim and beach wear for the shop Austin Reed; it was taken at sulphur pools in Rome. Jim Lee was inspired by the strange, surreal quality of the sulphur pool which appeared to be empty due to the milky quality of the water. The men are actually diving into the pool but it seems as if they are diving into the air. The girls are climbing out of the pool almost chasing the boys. Lee felt this composition created a level of confusion and provokes the viewer to question what is happening in the scene.

Jim Lee established himself as a leading international photographer based in London, Paris, Milan and New York, shooting for such clients as Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent. His great breakthrough was meeting the diva of fashion editors, Anna Wintour, at that time the assistant fashion editor at Harpers and Queen, who he regularly collaborated with to produce some of his best work, which continued years later after they both moved to New York. Central to his work is the concept of telling stories which he creates using casts of three or three hundred and extraordinary locations and props. He has recently re-emerged as an active photographer working on numerous magazine editorials with top fashion stylists.

Jim Lee has recently moved seamlessly into directing TV commercials, his first film was for Levi’s followed by several fashion and beauty commercials.In 2003/4 he had six photographs showing in the Ossie Clark retrospective at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Printed from the original negatives by a student of the Royal College of Art, London.

This photograph was an advertising commission to sell swim and beach wear for the shop Austin Reed; it was taken at sulphur pools in Rome. Jim Lee was inspired by the strange, surreal quality of the sulphur pool which appeared to be empty due to the milky quality of the water. The men are actually diving into the pool but it seems as if they are diving into the air. The girls are climbing out of the pool almost chasing the boys. Lee felt this composition created a level of confusion and provokes the viewer to question what is happening in the scene.

E.17-2006