The Story Behind the Image of Steve Jobs
“He looked at me like I had given him a Christmas present.”
=A THREAD BY WD=
“He looked at me like I had given him a Christmas present.”
=A THREAD BY WD=
Steven Paul Jobs was an American business ma…
Wait a minute, who doesn’t know the great Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Inc.!?
Let’s cut this unnecessary part and tell the story of one of the most famous pictures in the world.
Wait a minute, who doesn’t know the great Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Inc.!?
Let’s cut this unnecessary part and tell the story of one of the most famous pictures in the world.
This 2006 shot of Steve Jobs is probably the most iconic photograph taken by Scottish artist, Albert Watson.
The story behind this photo shooting is an interesting one!
And there are even very important lessons in that.
The story behind this photo shooting is an interesting one!
And there are even very important lessons in that.
1. Time is precious
Watson was due to take a portrait of Jobs.
But there’s a problem;
“Steve hates photographers!”
Albert is aware of this and promises Jobs to do it in half the time that was planned.
“He looked at me like I had given him a Christmas present.”
Watson was due to take a portrait of Jobs.
But there’s a problem;
“Steve hates photographers!”
Albert is aware of this and promises Jobs to do it in half the time that was planned.
“He looked at me like I had given him a Christmas present.”
2. Simplicity is key
He only needed: 20 minutes, a white background and the man himself to get the best image of his career!
Upon leaving, Steve said it was “maybe the best picture ever taken of me.”
He only needed: 20 minutes, a white background and the man himself to get the best image of his career!
Upon leaving, Steve said it was “maybe the best picture ever taken of me.”
3. Poignant tribute
Years later Albert had a call from the head of PR at Apple asking him to send the image to them immediately.
That evening, the announcement that Jobs had passed away was made.
Apple announced Jobs’ death on its website with Albert's portrait on Oct 5, 2011.
Years later Albert had a call from the head of PR at Apple asking him to send the image to them immediately.
That evening, the announcement that Jobs had passed away was made.
Apple announced Jobs’ death on its website with Albert's portrait on Oct 5, 2011.
4. Enduring power
The power of this portrait is enduring. It is an iconic image representing an era in our relationship with technology.
It's on the cover of Jobs biography, it appeared on Apple’s website for a month after his passing, and it's how we remember the entrepreneur
The power of this portrait is enduring. It is an iconic image representing an era in our relationship with technology.
It's on the cover of Jobs biography, it appeared on Apple’s website for a month after his passing, and it's how we remember the entrepreneur
*Taken from an interview with Albert Watson.
https://profoto.com/uk/profoto-stories/albert-watson-steve-jobs



