SUE ADLER

“We would like you to photograph Nicole Kidman in

Sydney, Luciano Pavarotti in Chicago, Yvonne

Kenny in Russia, Terence Davies in London and Baz

Luhrmann in New York”.

For 25 years I have been privileged to be asked to

photograph many of the world’s artistic and creative

elite. The commissions took me to 25 countries on

four continents.

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'Moulin Rouge' Red dress

The red dress worn here by Nicole Kidman in her role as 'Satin' in the Baz Luhrmann film 'Moulin Rouge' at Fox Studios, Sydney 2000

However, I felt the real privilege in all that time was that, although

I was told who to photograph, I was never told how to photograph them.

Nicole Kidman In her role as 'Satin' from 'Moulin Rouge' Baz Luhrmann's film at Fox Studios, Sydney, Australia 2002, Photography by SUE ADLER

Nicole Kidman In her role as 'Satin' from 'Moulin Rouge' Baz Luhrmann's film at Fox Studios, Sydney, Australia 2002

Pricewaterhousecooper executive, from a series of portraits to show top executives and their hobbies, 1999

Photographed in Sydney Australia prior to her departure from her time as musical Director of Opera Australia

Bryn Terfel as Falstaf, Sydney Opera House Australia

One of twelve images created for the Midland Bank Calendar. Theme - Old British professions

Moulin Rouge Scene on set at Fox Studios, Sydney, Australia, 2002,

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Mark Elder Music Director of English National Opera 1990

David McAlliater, newly appointed director of the Australian Ballet 2001

Stephen Berkoff At His London home 1989

The freedom to interpret each subject in my own way was so

liberating. I also applied that same freedom to my performance work

where, once again, the images were of the most visually dramatic

moments of performance rather than the dramatic musical peaks

which, when stripped of sound and movement, do not necessarily

make visually exciting imagery.

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Midsummer Night's Dream ENO at the London Coliseum

Kris Ciesinski as Lady Macbeth in the ENO production of 'Macbeth' takes the final bow in Leningrad of the ENO tour to the USSR. WINNER OF THE BP ARTS JOURNALISM AWARD 1990

La Boheme, Musetta on stage at the Curran Theatre, San Francisco during Baz Luhrmann's production of 'La Boheme' 2002

Firebird - Kirov Ballet Company performed during The Kirov Ballet Company's tour of UK Performed at The London Coliseum

Likewise my many many other commissions, which include ‘La

Boheme’ for Baz Luhrmann, 'Star Wars: Episode 11' for George

Lucas and the Australian Ballet 40th anniversary calendar, to name

but three, were almost always ‘interference free’ and that in itself, in a

world full of Producers, Publicity Advisers, Marketing Managers,

Media Advisers and Stylists was, and continues to be immensely

liberating and rewarding.

George Lucas / Director 'Star Wars: Episode II.On set at Fox Studios, Sydney, Australia

Christopher Lee on set at Fox Studios, Sydney, Australia Star Wars: Episode II 2001

Natalie Portman in her role as Queen Amidala on set at Fox Studios, Sydney Australia 2001, Star Wars episode II

Awards (Arts Photographer of the Year, twice), exhibitions and books

are wonderful and vindicating but, capturing that elusive ‘moment’,

whether it be during a portrait session, buried in a dress rehearsal or

during a pause in filming, is, for me, what makes my continuing

pursuit of ‘the image’ so unendingly exciting.

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Spartacus. One of twelve images created for the Australian Ballet 40th anniversay calendar 2002, Olivia Bell & Stephen Heathcote Costumes by Tivadar Mark for Laszlo Seregi's ballet

The Deep End. One of 12 images created for AB 40th anniversary calendar 2002, Rachel Dougherty & Kate Ripley Costumes by Meryl Tasnkard for her ballet

Por Vos Muero. One of 12 illustrations for The Australian Ballet 40th anniversary calendar 2002

I am at the moment nearing completion of a two-year project in Venice.

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Venice during carnival .A Venetian in carnival costume behind the Piazza San Marco

Venice Carnival. From 'The Carnival' series

Sheila Colvin - Artistic Director of the Aldeburgh Festival, Suffolk 1991

Ariadne auf Naxos ENO production at the London Coliseum 1994

Lance Gries Canadian performance artist rehearsing at The Purcell Room' South Bank, London 1993

The Ring. Dress rehearsal 'Das Rheingold' from 'The Ring Cycle' Adelaide, South Australia 2004,

Slava Polunin the renowned Russian clown in performance at The Hackney Empire, London 1996

Yvonne Kenny in her role as 'Fairy Queen' English National Opera, The Coliseum, London

Look for more images by SUE ADLER

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