Ian Fleming Images has announced the acquisition of Loomis Dean’s fantastic photographs of Ian Fleming, a selection of which first featured in Life Magazine in the 1960s – and now available to license.
They say: This historic collection of images will further enhance the image offering available through Ian Fleming Images which, alongside Ian Fleming Publications, works to promote Ian Fleming’s literary legacy.
• Ian Fleming Images offers a broad range of photographs of the James Bond author throughout his life for both commercial and editorial licensing; we look forward to helping you find the best image for your requirements.
Collection Notes: Loomis Dean, 1917-2005, photographed a wide variety of people and events during his long career with his work ranging from time as an aerial reconnaissance photographer in the Pacific during the Second World War to photographing the likes of Elvis Presley and many Hollywood greats of the 1950s. This was followed by 25 years covering events and photographing personalities all over the world whilst based at Life Magazine’s Paris office. Loomis Dean’s photographs appeared on over 50 covers of Life, including the iconic photograph of Ian Fleming behind the wheel of a Bentley seen here.
Dean was famed for his ability to put his subjects at ease whilst adding amusing or interesting elements to the scene, setting his photos apart from more traditional portrait shots. This sense of fun imbues Dean’s photographs and the mixture of reportage, candid and formal portrait styles give the viewer an insight into the personality of the subject and an appealing sense of informality and atmosphere. The photographs include portrayals of Fleming in situations in which James Bond might have found himself, behind the wheel of a fine motor car or inspecting Brazilian gold coins through a magnifying glass, blurring the lines between the author and his hero. Other images in the collection access a more private part of Fleming’s life, such as cooking his famous scrambled egg recipe as featured in the Herald Tribune article Fleming wrote titled “007 in New York”.