Life Through an Aperture

For blockbuster photographer Keith Hamshere it was the humble ukulele, given to him for his ninth birthday, that piqued his interest in the entertainment industry, leading to a long and impressive career in front of and behind the camera.

Starting out in the late 1950s as a child actor, Keith decided to add another string to his bow, developing his interest in photography and becoming a society photographer at the heart of Swinging London.

Keith’s big break came in the mid 1960s, when unit photographer Johnny Jay began working on a new film directed by Stanley Kubrick. Recalling Keith’s fascination with photography and his growing popularity, Johnny asked him if he would be interested in helping out on 2001: A Space Odyssey. Keith did not need to think twice about his answer.

Following on from his stellar work on 2001, Keith went on to become an established stills photographer and amassed an impressive filmography, working on films such as Battle of Britain and Superman II before embarking on the first of eight James Bond assignments: The Spy Who Loved Me. Along with his Bond films, Keith also worked on other legendary franchises, including Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and the three Star Wars prequels, among many others.

For more than five decades, Keith played a key role in creating some of the most iconic images from some of the biggest movies ever made. In Life Through an Aperture, he shares his fascinating tales of rubbing shoulders with the biggest names in Hollywood, alongside his incredible images.