Focus The Secret, Sexy, Sometimes Sordid World of Fashion Photographers [Paperback]

“This thoroughly absorbing narrative dazzles with the most profound investigation and research.Focusis an enthralling and riveting read.” —Tim Gunn

“Smart, well-researched…engaging…canny” (New York Times Book Review),Focusis a “fast-paced—and clearly insider—look at the rarefied, sexy world of fashion photography” (Lauren Weisberger, author ofThe Devil Wears Prada).New York Timesbestselling author Michael Gross brings to life the wild genius, egos, passions, and antics of the men (and a few women) behind the camera, probing the lives, hang-ups, and artistic triumphs of more than a dozen of fashion photography’s greatest visionaries, including Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Bill King, Helmut Newton, Gilles Bensimon, Bruce Weber, Steven Meisel, and Bob and Terry Richardson.

Tracing the highs and lows of fashion photography from the late 1940s to today,Focustakes you behind the scenes to reveal the revolutionary creative processes and fraught private passions of these visionary magicians, “delving deep into the fascinating rivalries” (The Daily News) between photographers, fashion editors, and publishers like Condé Nast and Hearst. Weaving together candid interviews, never-before-told insider anecdotes and insights born of his three decades of front-row and backstage reporting on modern fashion,Focusis “simply unrivaled…a sensation….Gross is a modern-day Vasari, giving usThe Lives of the Artistsin no small measure” (CraveOnline).“Does not skimp on the gossipy goods. There are descents into madness, prolific drug use, orgies, blackmail photos and suicide attempts…But this book…is also smart, well-researched and written with an insider’s eye…engaging and on point.”"A delicious read. Sweeping...thoughtful...""An often-shocking tale rilc,