Many of the most iconic fashion images of all-time, feature models photographed in groupings by the likes of photographers; Richard Avedon, Herb Ritts, Peter Lindbergh, Steven Meisel, Annie Leibovitz, Mario Testino, Patrick Demarchelier and Irving Penn. During the nineties the emergence of the supermodel phenomenon was greatly influenced by the photographs taken of a select group of women who would eventually be referred to as the "Supes." When I think of the term "supermodel", the classic Peter Lindbergh January 1990 British Vogue cover shot of Naomi Campbell, Tatjana Patitz, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington instantly springs to mind. More than 20 years have passed since I first laid eyes on this image and still, I am enthralled by its beauty, so much so that I have a print of it framed and taking pride of position in my hallway.
I love analysing the dynamic and composition of various images featuring grouped models. The first thing I look for is the suitability of the selection of models. Do their individual looks compliment each other? Are the models working in unison to achieve that singular shot which encapsulates the photographer's vision? How are the model's bodies positioned in relation to one another and in relation to the image frame. I also look for elegance of the positioning of the model's limbs and the energy which transpires between the model's themselves.
The images featured below are amongst my favourites and all project a momentous sense of occasion. One gets an inkling that there is an acknowledgement of pride and appreciation amongst the models at having been selected as one of the chosen few. I only hope that today's generation of photographers will continue to follow in the ilk of Avedon, Lindbergh et al. by allowing top-tier models the opportunity to shine in equally, beautifully composed group portraits.
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| Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington & Cindy Crawford British Vogue - January 1990 Photographer - Peter Lindbergh Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Wild at Heart US Vogue - September 1991 Photographer - Peter Lindbergh Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Stephanie Seymour, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz & Naomi Campbell Photographer - Herb Ritts Source - artnet.com |
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| Estelle LeFebure, Karen Alexander, Rachel Williams, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitiz & Christy Turlington British Vogue - August 1988 Photographer - Peter Lindbergh Source - bellazon.com |
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| Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista & Christy Turlington Vogue Italia - December 1989 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Nadja Auermann, Cindy Crawford, Stephanie Seymour, Claudia Schiffer & Christy Turlington Photographer - Richard Avedon Source - thefashionspot.com |
| Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Niki Taylor, Yasmeen Ghauri, Karen Mulder & Elaine Irwin US Vogue - April 1992 Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Isabeli Fontana, Natasha Poly, Raquel Zimmerman, Liya Kebede, Karen Elson, Sasha Pivovarova, Natalia Vodianova, Lara Stone, Coco Rocha & Caroline Trentini US Vogue - May 2009 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - models.com |
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| Linda Evangelista, Nadja Auermann, Naomi Campbell, Shalom Harlow, Christy Turlington, Amber Valetta, & Kristen McMenamy Vogue Italia - May 1993 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Stephanie Seymour, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer & Christy Turlington US Vogue - September 1993 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - thefashionspot |
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| Vogue Italia - October 1994 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Gail O'Neill, Kadra Ahmed Omar, Karen Alexander, Kara Young, Shakara Ledard, Oluchi Onweagba, Katouche, Cynthia Bailey, Clara Benjamin,Tyra Banks, Adia, Noemie Lenoir, Liya Kebede, Naomi Campbell, Iman Abdulmajid & Beverly Johnson Vanity Fair - September 2001 Photographer - Annie Leibovitz Source - vanityfair.com |
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| Caroline Ribeiro, Isabeli Fontana, Gracie Carvalho, Fernanda Tavares, Aline Weber, Izabeli Goulart, Ana Claudia Michels, Emanuela de Paula, Barbara Berger Vogue Brasil - May 2010 Photographer - Gui Paganini Source - models.com |
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| Chanel Iman, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn & Arlenis Sosa i-D Magazine - September 2009 Photographer - Emma Summerton Source - models.com |
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| Liya Kebede, Caroline Ribeiro, Colette, Carmen Kass, Malgosia Bela, Karen Elson, Maggie Rizer & Missy Rayder US Vogue - July 2000 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - bellazon.com |
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| Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington & Cindy Crawford British Vogue - June 1991 Photographer - Herb Ritts Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Christy Turlington, Nadja Auermann, Cindy Crawford, Stephanie Seymour & Claudia Schiffer Photographer - Richard Avedon Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Stephanie Seymour, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford & Naomi Campbell Vanity Fair - September 2008 Photographer - Mario Testino Source - models.com |
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| Kate Moss, Lauren Hutton, Iman Abdulmajid, Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer, Lisa Taylor, Paulina Porizkova, Patti Hansen, Carolyn Murphy, Amber Valetta & Gisele Bundchen US Vogue - November 1999 Photographer - Annie Leibowitz Source - nymag.com |
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| Gisele Bundchen, Isabeli Fontana, Daria Werbowry, Karolina Kurkova, Hana Soukupova, Karen Elson, Natalia Vodianova, Liya Kebede & Gemma Ward US Vogue - September 2004 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - models.com |
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| Joan Smalls, Ajak Deng, Arlenis Sosa, Chanel Iman, Anais Mali, Jourdan Dunn & Sessilee Lopez US Vogue - February 2011 Photographer - Mario Testino Source - models.com |
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| Eva Herzigova, Beverly Peele, Petra Linblad, Claudia Mason & Nadja Auermann British Vogue - January 1992 Photographer - Unknown Source - bellazon.com |
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| Helena Christensen, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington & Stephanie Seymour US Vogue - April 1993 Photographer - Herb Ritts Source - nymag.com |
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| Kirsty Hume, Nadja Auermann, Nadege Dubospertus, Claudia Schiffer, Shalom Harlow, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Carla Bruni & Brandi Quinones Vogue Italia - Unknown Photographer - Mario Testino Source - thefashionspot.com |