Jane Bown joined the Observer in 1949 and over the next six decades created a remarkably singular body of work that straddled all areas of photojournalism. It is, however, for her insightful, intimate and deeply respectful portraits that she is best remembered. Her working method was legendary – speed and simplicity. She used Olympus OM1s from the early 1970s, liked to expose no more than two films, never used a light meter, never had an assistant, used natural light only, and worked, almost exclusively, in black and white. Famously reluctant to talk about her working method, Jane once admitted that for the brief moment when she looked at somebody through a lens, what she felt could best be described in terms of an intense love
Because of her fame as a portraitist, it is often forgotten that Jane worked in all areas of photojournalism covering everything from fashion to demonstrations to trials to publicity shoots. Order your print here
Jane asked Hockney to pose outside his front door for this portrait because she always favoured natural light. She loved the bold graphic quality of the trademark glasses and the astrakhan coat. Order your print here
Performers were often happy for Jane to take pictures while they were being interviewed as is the case here. The sophistication of the cropping and the way in which Jagger is squeezed into the frame adds to the brooding sexuality. Order your print here
Jane claimed she was happiest when ‘mooching’ about unseen as was the case during the Fonteyn-Nureyev rehearsal. Order your printhere
Jane adored photographing Björk – there are three separate shoots. And Björk, after she saw this portrait, described Jane as ‘bulletproof’! Order your print here
This portrait was taken backstage during a concert rehearsal with scores of people milling about. Over and over again throughout her career, Jane managed to capture images which radiate calm and intimacy. Order your print here
Jane photographed the Beatles on several different occasions in the 1960s. This is a classic Jane shot – short depth of field and Lennon’s unmistakable profile framed by large areas of rich black. Order your print here
