It turns out that some celebrities have it all: they’re talented, good-looking, rich and famous. However, there are even some who can do more than just act and look pretty. Here’s a list of celebrities who dared to step out from in front of the lens and instead look through it and become image makers themselves.
Celebrities Who Became Photographers
1. Brad Pitt
© Sam Javanrouh via Flickr Commons
Brad Pitt is one of the most successful names on this list, in both acting and photography. Since 2005—around the time he was working on Mr. and Mrs. Smith—Pitt worked with Steven Klein on a photo series called Domestic Bliss. Since then, it seemed to turn from a hobby into a profession: even shooting W Magazine’s November 2008 cover.
2. Aaron Eckhart
© Gage Skidmore via Flickr Commons
Aaron Eckhart, or better known by most as Harvey Dent from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, has been an avid photographer for years. After shooting an advertisement for Molly Sims’ jewelry line, Eckhart was quoted saying, “Will I turn professional? I will if somebody asks me…I’m really just a photography geek. I just love to shoot.”
Actor Aaron Eckhart shooting in the Dominican Republic for Americares via Fast Company
3. Viggo Mortensen
Photo © Dalek Helen via Flickr Creative Commons
The star who is known for his role in Lord of the Rings, Viggo Mortensen is a highly regarded photographer with several published photo books: Coincidence of Memory, SignLanguage, Linger and The Horse is Good to name a few.
4. Drew Carey
Photo © p_diddio via Flickr Creative Commons
Drew Carey is a huge fan of sports photography and soccer; and he has combined that passion by taking time out of his busy schedule and becoming a sideline photographer. Carey has worked several U.S National Team soccer matches and sells his photos under the pseudonym Brooks Parkenridge.
5. Jeff Bridges
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Jeff “The Dude” Bridges is a talented actor best known for The Big Lebowski, Tron and his Oscar-winning role in Crazy Heart. The actor has also fancied himself a photographer and loves to photograph all types of events, including on set life during movie shoots. You can see all his work at his personal website.
© Jeff Bridges
6. Stanley Kubrick
© Look Magazine Photograph Collection via Wikipedia
Probably one of the most interesting men on this list, Stanley Kubrick is regarded by many to be the greatest director to have ever lived. But many do not know that Kubrick started his career as a photographer for Look Magazine where he truly shot some world famous photos, including the below photo after FDR’s death.
© Look Magazine Photographic Collection
7. Helena Christensen
Photo © Oxfam International via Flickr Creative Commons
Helena Christensen originally started her career in front of the camera, but she soon realized that she equally loved the behind the camera duties. Since then, she worked as a creative director on Marvin Scott Jarrett’s Nylon and has had her work in famous magazines like Marie Claire and ELLE.
Julia Restoin Roitfeld © Helena Christensen
8. Gina Lollobrigida
Photo © Ivo Bulanda via Wikimedia Commons
An actress who was widely known for her voluptuous shape, Gina Lollobrigida left Hollywood as a sex symbol to embark on her second career, photojournalism. And she was wildly successful, photographing figures like Henry Kissinger and Paul Newman. She even somehow got an exclusive interview with Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
© Gina Lollobrigida
9. Lou Reed
Photo © Man Alive! via Flickr Creative Commons
The world famous guitarist, who unfortunately passed away last October, Lou Reed is famous for his solo act, as well as, his time with Velvet Underground. But he also published gorgeous photo books including the amazing Romanticism and Emotions in Action.
© Lou Reed
10. James Franco
Photo © Alice Barigelli via Flickr Creative Commons
As an avid movie fan, I have clearly noticed that the market has been over-saturated with James Franco. The man who has been going to school while acting in huge Hollywood productions, has also dabbled in almost all of the art forms. Besides acting, directing, painting and writing, the man has even taken up photography. Most recently, Franco recreated famous Cindy Sherman photos with him as the subject.
© James Franco
11. Tyra Banks
Photo © David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons
A lot of people have wrongfully mislabeled Tyra Banks over the years. While America’s Top Model and her former talk show The Tyra Banks Show were not works of art, she has proven herself to be a more than capable photographer. Her keen eye for lighting and shadows show that the former model has real natural talent.
© Tyra Banks
12. Andy Summers
Photo © Scott Ableman via Flickr Creative Commons
As the above picture shows, Andy Summers, who is standing next to Sting, is the world famous guitarist of The Police. But he also has done some astounding photography work, which he claims “may indeed be influenced by his absorption with music and that in a sense the photography he creates is a visual counterpart to the music that never leaves his head.” Summers has had his work in countless art exhibits as well as photo books such as Throb and Desirer Walks the Streets.
© Andy Summers
13. Norman Reedus
© Norman Reedus
The famous actor from The Walking Dead and the cult-classic Boondock Saints franchise has begun a fantastic career in photography. Like most of the celebrities on this list, his photos display a natural talent in this field. As a result, he has collected some of his work and released it as a photobook: The Sun’s Coming Up…Like a Big Bald Head.
14. Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams Hamburg by Marco Maas – via Flickr Commons
The famous Canadian musician Bryan Adams has taken up photography as a second profession. His work has been published in the British Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, and Interview. But most notably, his photo book titled Wounded: The Legacy of War was a triumph that beautifully chronicled the tragedies of war.
The post Celebrities Who Became Photographers And Their Work appeared first on Resource Magazine.