The photography of Guy Bourdin speaks for itself as the work of an iconic artist. For nearly half a century Bourdin was contributing provocative and innovative imagery to the fashion industry. He was a protégé of Man Ray and a contemporary of Helmut Newton. His first fashion shot was published in Vogue Paris in 1955. He went on to work for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, and shot ad campaigns for Chanel, Issey Miyake, Emanuel Ungaro, Gianni Versace, Loewe, Pentax and Bloomingdale's. Perhaps his most famous campaign came out of a sort of patronage by shoe designer Charles Jourdan, creating a mise en scene that ignited a narrative in print work. His questioning of subject v. content v. product was not without criticism of his views on gender and violence. It was his risks and surrealist eye that spurred a new wave of innovative photographers. 

Somerset House is hosting the Guy Bourdin "Image Maker" exhibit until March 15, 2015.