Bill Cunningham New York [DVD]

Beautifully made and edited documentary about the great New York fashion photographer Bill Cunningham.

Bill is a small, hunched, elderly, deaf man with bad teeth and a Nikon film camera round his neck. He rides his bike through the streets of New York before chaining it to a lamppost (he's had 27 bikes stolen) and taking photographs of street fashion for the New York Times. In the evenings he cycles to glittering charity events and takes photographs of the clothes. Bill doesn't care how famous you are (his dismissive of celebrities in their "free dresses"). If you are wearing interesting clothes well he will make a photograph if not he'll look elsewhere.

A private and reserved man whose only interest is in recording the evolving fashion trends. He lives a spartan life in a tiny apartment in Carnegie Hall full of filing cabinets holding all the film he has ever exposed with hundreds of books on fashion tucked into every nook and cranny. Bill knows everybody who's anybody in New York but hardly anybody knows Bill. He goes to Paris for Fashion Week and waits patiently outside one of the shows with his invitation amongst all the other photographers. It looks like there's no space for for this little old man and the security person can't find his name on the list when someone rushes out of the building and leads him in "this is the most important person in the world" Bill gets seated in the front row but he will only photograph the clothes that are interesting.

The film has cameo appearances by the New York Glitterati and some wonderfully eccentric fellow residents of Carnegie Hall but the enigma which is Bill dominates.

Finally the film lifts a small corner of Bills facade and we get a hint of the price that his monomania has exacted from his emotional life.

An interesting insight into the life of an 80+ New York photographer who seems to work most of the day and night, such dedication can only be admired. Because it's such a unique film I think I can only give my biased opinion as both as a cyclist and photographer. The cinema showing this was in Leeds so I decided to buy the DVD and found it very enjoyable. From a photographic point of view the fact he still uses film and the fact that the New York Times tolerates this seems to be because he doesn't cost much. At least one magazine editor says "Bill" never cashed any of the cheques she gave him in payment and he says if you don't get paid for what you do then you can do what you want.

What he doesn't explain is where exactly he earns his money to allow him to carry out all this voluntary work. I am sure lots of very keen young photojournalists would find this DVD useful if only for his techniques used and his simple equipment. No 5K digital cameras here just a couple of hundred pounds in an old Nikon SLR and a couple of rolls film, not even auto focus. Lots of photographers could learn a lot from this eccentric octogenarian and the techniques used.

For the sake of spending a few pounds, which you would struggle to buy a pizza for, then it would be money well spent for an aspiring photographer or anyone interested in Bohemian lifestyles.

I always watch Bill's 'On the street" weekly report and was looking forward to seeing this film. The film shows Bill's passion for fashion and his lack of interest in the modern culture of celebrity. I wanted to know the real Bill, and the film delves into his past, including his stint in the Military and his family. Bill's use of the words 'child' and 'kid' made me laugh and you can't but wonder who will carry on Bill's column when he leaves us. Bill's flatmates are truly one offs and they are a key part of this documentary. Bill was riding his 27th bike when this was made - he's probably on his 30th now!
DW