At London met libraries we subscribe to a great number of e-resources (electronic resources that retrieve data held in global, national, or local databases) to help you with your studies. These can be accessed anywhere with internet access, a suitable device and your London Met username and password. Having access to a rich and comprehensive resource can significantly enhance your studies and creative projects.
One of these resources is The Bloomsbury Fashion Photography Archive, which offers a treasure trove of visual and contextual information that can elevate your understanding and appreciation of fashion photography, as well as offer inspiration.
A Wealth of Visual Content
The Bloomsbury Fashion Photography Archive contains over 775,000 high-quality images from international fashion shows spanning the last 40 years. This extensive collection includes runway, backstage, and street-style photographs from fashion capitals like Paris, London, New York, and Milan. These images provide a visual history of fashion trends, iconic designs, and influential figures in the industry, making it an essential resource for studying the evolution of fashion photography.
For example, there are 164 images from Alexander McQueen’s Spring/ Summer 1995 show ‘The Birds’ which was presented at London Fashion Week. (Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 film ‘The Birds’, which you can borrow on DVD from Aldgate library, or watch online via Bob – Box of Broadcasts as well!)
It also includes biographies of designers, scholarly articles, and contextual information that help place the photographs within a broader social and historical framework.
Using this archive can help you by providing :
Inspiration and Reference: The vast array of images can serve as a source of inspiration for your own photography projects. Whether you're looking for ideas on composition, lighting, or styling, the archive provides countless examples.
Cross-Disciplinary Learning: The archive supports cross-disciplinary research, making it a valuable resource not only for fashion photography but also for studies in fashion design, history, and cultural studies
See our Instagram video for a quick guide of how to access this resource, and if you need any further help, you can contact the Academic Liaison Librarian for your subject to arrange some one to one support.
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