David Levine (photographer)

David Levine

David Levine
Born	1960 (age 63–64)
Nationality	British
Occupation(s)	Music, portrait and fashion photographer
Years active	1977–
Known for	Work with Culture Club, ABC, The Cure, Kylie Minogue, Steve Strange and Tim Pope.
Notable work	His cover of Boy George on the "Karma Chameleon" single sleeve is one of the most recognised images of Boy George. One of his many shoots with ABC inspired the cartoons characters of the band that were used on the cover of the How to be a Zillionaire album.

David Levine (born 1960) is a British music, portrait and fashion photographer. He is best known for his work with Culture Club, ABC, Kylie Minogue and The Cure.

Career

David Levine started his career in 1977 while working as a photographer's assistant. He went on to photograph artists live in concert including Iggy Pop live at the Music Machine London and worked as a stills photographer on music videos with the director Tim Pope. As well as working with Culture Club, Levine also worked with a number of other 1980s acts including ABC, The Cure, Kylie Minogue, Jermaine Jackson, 5 Star, and Siouxsie Sioux. Levine quickly established a style of work in the studio, which was much copied by other music and fashion photographers in the '80s and indeed today his influence can still be seen. That style and work ethic (Levine shot virtually every day in the 80s) earned him the nickname 'The man who shot the 80's'. Always filming throughout his stills career, his music videos are as typically stylish and gritty as his stills. Levine's work in both stills and film achieves a style unique to him.

Levine was invited to lecture at the University of Arts London, London College of Fashion in 2014 where he continues to lecture on Fashion Photography while continuing with his busy photography and film career.

Levine's 2009 portrait of Paul Nicholls is held in the National Portrait Gallery. Levine is currently guest lecturing on Fashion and digital Photography at the University of the Arts London, London College of Fashion.

Levine has never won any awards for his work, and is on the record as saying “I don’t do this to get awards, I do it so I know I’m ok at what I do.” Not ever one to compromise, Levine puts friendship ahead of anything.

Personal life

He is the younger brother of record producer Steve Levine.

Further reading

• Golding, Roxanne (13 November 2013). "Interview: David Levine". Schön! Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014.
• The Blockheads Live (Published Work). 5 July 2013. ISBN 9780992638948.
• "Interview: David Levine". Mel and Kim Official Website. 13 November 2014.
• Public Enemy for one night only (Published Work). 20 August 2013. ISBN 9780992638924.
• Little Comets Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire (Published Work). 10 September 2013. ISBN 9780992638962.
• Archive Live The False Foundation Tour 2016 (Published Work). 31 October 2016. ISBN 9780992638917.
• Berry, Hannah (5 February 2010). "Interview: David Levine – Life through a lens". Fourth Wall Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
• "Epson Sponsor David Levine's Latest Project". Ephotozine. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
• Archive Live: The False Foundation Tour 2017 (Published Work). 31 October 2017. ISBN 9780992638955.
• "Meet the Photographer David Levine". Naked Eye Gallery. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
• "David Levine proud to be a photographer at Camera Press". Camera press.
• "David Levine Collection of Fine Art Prints". Saatchi Art.