German photographer Ellen von Unwerth was a model before she got
behind the camera, so (the blurb goes) she knows a thing or two
about pretty women. She's certainly had access to a few, having
shot (as they say in the trade, using a rather violent I've always
thought metaphor) such beauties as Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss,
Vanessa Paradis, Britney Spears, Eva Mendes, Lindsay Lohan, Dita
von Teese, Eva Green and Christina Aguilera, photos of all of whom
are included in Fräulein. According to one of the book's anecdotes,
she's buddies with Beth Ditto, too.
It is actually a hugely impressive book, massive in scale and
with more beautiful photos of pretty models and celebrities than
anyone could possibly hope for. The images were shot over the past
15 years, and many have never been published before; fortunately
all are reproduced in a vast thumbnail gallery at the back so you
can check you have correctly identified each celeb or year and
location.
With Christmas looming, this book would doubtless make a nice
gift for a well-muscled photography enthusiast; just make sure she
has a coffee table large enough to support this monster.
Fräulein is published by and available from Taschen,
£44.99
Visit Taschen.com
