He is the author of some of the most memorable and iconic portraits of the past fifty years. Born in Edinburgh in 1943,Albert Watson captured the faces of the most influential figures of our times – Steve Jobs,Andy Warhol,Alfred Hitchcock… And to this day,he continues to shoot editorials for major fashion magazines. As he unveils a new exhibition at A. Galerie until December 20th, 2025, and prepares the publication of a major monograph titled Kaos with Taschen on November 28th, the Scottish photographer tells Numéro the stories behind five of his most unforgettable images.By Camille Bois-Martin.

“Kaos”: Albert Watson unveils a Lifetime of Images in a New Taschen Book – and We Have an exclusive Preview

Albert Watson is a name synonymous with iconic imagery. From his groundbreaking fashion work for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar to his celebrated portraits of celebrities like Steve Jobs and Kate Moss, the Scottish photographer has consistently pushed the boundaries of the medium. Now, Taschen is releasing “Kaos,” a monumental retrospective encompassing over 40 years of his prolific career.

the book isn’t organized chronologically or thematically, but rather, as Watson describes, “by feeling.” This unconventional approach mirrors his own creative process, allowing unexpected juxtapositions and revealing the underlying threads that connect his diverse body of work. “I didn’t want a typical retrospective,” Watson explains. “I wanted something that felt more like how my mind works – chaotic, intuitive, and full of surprises.”

“Kaos” features over 400 images, many of wich have never been published before. Its a visual feast that spans fashion, celebrity portraits, art photography, and even his lesser-known work in architecture and landscapes. The book also includes personal anecdotes and insights into Watson’s techniques, offering a rare glimpse into the mind of a master photographer.

One particularly striking image featured in the book is his 1976 portrait of Alfred Hitchcock with a goose for Harper’s Bazaar.The image, a perfect blend of the director’s signature suspense and Watson’s playful approach, encapsulates the photographer’s ability to capture the essence of his subjects in a single frame.

But “Kaos” is more than just a collection of gorgeous pictures. It’s a testament to Watson’s relentless curiosity, his unwavering commitment to his craft, and his unique vision of the world. It’s a book that will inspire photographers and art lovers alike, and a lasting legacy of one of the most influential image-makers of our time.

“Kaos” by Albert Watson, published by Taschen, is available now.

The legendary portrait of Steve Jobs (2006)

“I was to photograph him at 9am. I arrived there two hours early to set up the lighting and prepare everything down to the last detail. I knew Steve Jobs was a busy man and I only had an hour to shoot his portrait. Just a few minutes before the session, a PR guy from Apple came in and told me that Steve didn’t like photographers. But at this point in my life, I was far more confident than I used to be when I first started out. I didn’t care if he was a pain in the neck, I only cared about doing a good job. So, I thought about how to make the session run smoothly.When he walked in, I said to him, ‘I have good news for you. I only need you for thirty minutes!‘ He smiled and asked what I wanted him to do.”

“I’d managed to put him at ease. I asked him to pose as if he were in a meeting, sitting accross the table from people who disagreed with him, but knowing deep down that he was right. He replied, ‘No problem, I do that every day.‘ And just like that, the shot was done in a few minutes.I gave him a Polaroid version of the image and he walked away.”

(Albert Watson, Steve Jobs, Cupertino, California (2006). © Albert Watson, 2025.)

When Andy Warhol saw himself as the Terminator (1986)

“At the time, Andy warhol was in a modeling agency, meaning he was available. You could book him for a shoot the same way you would book Naomi Campbell. If the job was engaging,he would do it. He liked posing for pictures, just as much as he enjoyed shaping the artistic direction. He had even co-founded Interview magazine. So when German Vogue asked me to shoot a sunglasses campaign featuring Warhol,I immediately said yes. I had known him for years and had already worked with him many times. I knew exactly how he worked.”

“But this time,it was he who came to me with a concept for the shoot. He asked me if we could do a portrait in the style of the Terminator movie poster with Arnold Schwarzenegger [released in 1984, editor’s note]. He even pulled the image out of his pocket to show me, pointing out every detail he liked.I couldn’t help but smile and said we could try. I shot him from a low angle, to stay true to the original photo, and we played with the reflections in his sunglasses. He loved the result. Imagining himself as the Terminator really made him laugh. Andy was genuinely a funny and brilliant person.”

Albert Watson’s New Series Finds Beauty in Impermanence

Celebrated photographer Albert Watson recently embarked on a unique project in Rome, creating a series of images defined not by control, but by surrender to the elements. Unlike his iconic, meticulously crafted celebrity portraits, this work embraces chance and the ephemeral nature of the world around us.

the series began almost by accident. Watson explains, “I was in Ostia harbor, and I took a photograph. The next day, I went back to the exact same spot, using the same camera and lens, and hadn’t moved. I was in the exact same spot.”

He continued, “I looked at these two photos, so similar yet entirely distinct, and I decided to continue the series, simply letting nature change each image. The movement on the surface of the water, the wind, the light, the reflections, the clouds… everything around me was moving, constantly altering the composition. The photographs almost look like a series of abstractions or impressionist paintings – very graphic, with a conceptual edge, since the eye can’t latch onto anything concrete.I especially like that idea, as it stands in stark contrast to my celebrity portraits, which are usually immediately recognizable.”

Image of Albert Watson’s latest series in Rome taken in Ostia harbour in 2024