Photographer Richard Young speaks of ‘dear’ relationship with Amy Winehouse

Celebrity photographer Richard Young has provided a uncommon glimpse into his illustrious profession, sharing poignant anecdotes about Amy Winehouse and Princess Diana throughout his look on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.

Young, famend for capturing icons like Elizabeth Taylor and Mick Jagger, spoke fondly of his “dear” relationship with Winehouse.

He recounted being invited to {photograph} the singer on the evening she gained her first Grammy awards, as she was unable to attend the ceremony within the US. Young was en path to a resort when Universal Music’s PR known as, asking him to Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. “We’ve got this thing going on… Amy’s here. There’s a possibility she might get one or two awards. We would love you to come down and photograph it,” he was advised.

During the night, Winehouse’s mom, Janis, provided Young a bagel, prompting a playful interjection from Amy: “he’s fat enough as it is, he can’t have another bagel.” Young described the ambiance as vibrant, culminating in Winehouse securing 5 Grammys.

He captured an “incredible photograph” of her cuddling her crying mom on stage, a second he described as “just so beautiful.” He selected Winehouse’s hit “Rehab” as certainly one of his desert island discs, noting it “tells the story of the night.”

Young additionally mirrored on his “very, very nice” relationship with Princess Diana, citing an early portrait of her in a black Elizabeth Emanuel gown as his favorite.

His personal journey into images started after being expelled from faculty at 14 alongside his greatest pal, Mark Feld, who would later turn into Marc Bolan of T. Rex. Young, who was additionally acquainted with Leonard Cohen, admitted he beloved musicians, having as soon as aspired to be one himself.

Among his different musical picks have been T Rex’s “Cosmic Dancer” and Bob Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street.” He advised presenter Lauren Laverne that lots of the artists he selected had welcomed him “into their homes, into their work environment.”

Reflecting on his craft, Young acknowledged: “The most important thing about a photograph is, if it doesn’t tell a story, then it’s not really worth having.” He acknowledged some regrets over his 52-year profession however expressed gratitude for the belief positioned in him by his topics. “A lot of people know that they can trust me and they like me, so I’ve been very, very fortunate,” he concluded.