Karl Ferris
| Karl Ferris | |
|---|---|
| Born | Hastings, Sussex, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Photography |
Karl Ferris is an English photographer/designer, best known as one of the principal innovators of "psychedelic" photography. A photographer to the "British Rock Elite"—Eric Clapton, Cream, Donovan, The Hollies and Jimi Hendrix—Ferris was invited, as a style consultant and their personal photographer, to help create their public images. He was given an insider's access to the "Experience" that helped define the look of the 1960s and influence youth culture and lifestyles worldwide.
As a post World War II baby who grew up in Hastings, England in the 1950s, Ferris learned two things that would later affect his life – the first being the history of Hastings, which had been conquered by the Normans in 1066. This spawned an interest in this medieval period of history and young Karl would bicycle around Norman castles fantasizing about battles, knights, chivalry and heraldry. The second thing he learned was an appreciation of art, with some of his early paintings included in a show at the Hastings Museum. He later went on to study at Hastings College of Art, focusing on the Pre-Raphaelite style of painting which would later influence his psychedelic photography of the late 1960s.
After school, and with dreams of travelling to India, Ferris signed up as a steward on a P&O liner that went to Australia via India. After returning to England, he served two years with the Royal Air Force for his National Service (Conscription) as an aerial photographer, where he often flew in jet fighters operating the gun camera during dog fight practice. During this period he became friends with a fellow conscriptee who was a member of a Liverpool "Mersey Beat" group, and he was introduced for the first time to this type of music.
He was invited back to Liverpool to see a new group – The Beatles – who were appearing at the Cavern Club and was introduced to them there. From that point, he was hooked on "Beat" music from which The Beatles took their name.
After his military service, Ferris emigrated to Vancouver, Canada working as an assistant there to master photographer Harry Nygard. From Nygard, Karl learned the skills of composition, form and texture. He also began an involvement in the "Beatnik" lifestyle and began hanging out in coffee bars, listening to poetry readings and the progressive jazz of such artists as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy and Ornette Coleman. He photographed his first music subjects at these gatherings for local newspapers and magazines. He also began to take fashion shots of girlfriends and models, building up a respectable portfolio. Nygard told him that he had a real talent in this area, but to further expand his portfolio, he should return to London where the "Mod" fashion scene was creating new opportunities in the world of arts, music and fashion.
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