IIn 1960s London, photographer Frank Habicht's work captured the spirit and energy of the era, channeling his skills to celebrities as well as ordinary people, creating images that helped define a generation.
His ability to immortalize moments and capture the soul of his subjects has made him a well-known figure in the photography world. One of his most iconic works, Lost in a Dream, a tender portrait of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg from 1969, has been hailed as one of the most beautiful photographs of a couple ever taken .
Similarly, “Girl at the Rolling Stones Concert,” filmed in the 1960s, encapsulates the energy and freedom of the time, and decades later, many people and online fans are trying to figure out the identity of the mysterious woman. is now widely shared.
Another remarkable image, featuring Vanessa Redgrave and Madame Lin Kui at a peaceful protest in London in 1968, resonates as strongly today as it did when it was taken, and is an example of social, It documents political change and reflects Frank's enduring commitment to peace.
Frank passed away on October 8, 2024 in Bay of Islands, New Zealand at the age of 85. He was a beloved “daddy” to me and my musician brother Sebastian, and a soulmate for 55 years to my mother Christine.
Born in December 1938 in Hamburg, Germany, Frank Habicht began his career as a photographer in the early 1960s after studying at the Hamburg School of Photography. His work quickly gained attention across Europe and was published in magazines such as Esquire, The Sunday Times, Metropolis, and Twen. Frank's photographs capture faces and moments from the era, from Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones to Vanessa Redgrave, Roman Polanski, Charles Aznavour, Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg. There is. His 1969 book Young London: A Permissive Paradise is now considered a collector's item and is housed in prestigious institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
British author Valerie Mendes wrote about Frank in Metropolis magazine in 1969: Habicht discovers not the clothes, but the men and women wearing them. It's not the place, it's the people who live and work in that city. With the contrasting textures of skin and water, wood and hair, and the soft curves of bodies against metal and stone, he traces the intricate patterns of the heart of London and its restlessness. ”
When my father took photographs, he treated street children the same way he treated the Rolling Stones, and vice versa. And celebrities really responded to that, often inviting him to stay with them for the weekend.
Decades later, his work was included in the “Strange and Familiar'' exhibition organized by Martin Parr at the Barbican Center and Manchester Art Gallery in 2016.
In 1981, Frank settled in New Zealand's Bay of Islands, drawn to its beauty and tranquility. Here he spent much of his time photographing local landscapes and communities. His works reflect a deep connection to his homeland, including “Bay of Islands: Where the Grass Is Greener on Sunday'' and “Bay of Islands: Paradise Found.'' Dame Wina Cooper, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Queen Elizabeth II, and others were photographed at the Day celebrations. Protests and the unique life of the Far North.
In his later years, Frank's last published work, As It Was, was a poignant and wide-ranging reflection of his life in 1960s London.
This year I started interviewing my father for a book that will inspire young photographers.
“My camera has become an extension of myself, a partner on my journey to capture the essence of my surroundings,” Habicht told me, summing up his relationship with his craft.
“You don't need expensive equipment to take memorable photos. To be honest, I barely knew how to use studio lighting and preferred to shoot in natural light, especially on rooftops in London.” he said.
My father was deeply guided by the Native American Sioux saying, “To all beings and all things we are to be kin,” and this philosophy shaped his views in both life and art. I shaped it.
He frequently spoke of his love of film photography and remained true to the medium throughout his career.
“I still prefer to shoot on film, and every moment captured becomes priceless,” Frank said.
Looking back on his personal life, he said: [Till Death Do Us Part] This happens to be my lovely wife Christine. We met on December 31, 1969, the last day of the sixties, at a New Year's party in London. It has been an everlasting love ever since. ”
Even in his later years, Frank's heart remained in the 1960s.
“It's hard to believe that my images will outlive me, but it's nice to know that they have influenced so many people.”
