HER ROYAL HIGHNESS: David Montgomery is seen photographing an informal portrait of Queen Elizabeth in the early 60s on the grounds of Balmoral Castle. The photograph was taken by his assistant Reg Wilkins. (Courtesy of David Montgomery)
Although I had known him in the ’60s, David Montgomery is one of these very talented creative people who became a friend when he moved near me in Boca Raton, Florida. By a strange coincidence, we met up for the first time in many years.
Susan Vaughn, a friend from London in Boca Raton for the winter break, was then married to one of the U.K.’s greatest TV personalities, Norman Vaughn.
Her friend, ex-theatrical dancer Jean King and her husband Martin, lived around the corner from us for some time. Everything started to unfold when Susan told us that Jean had been a former client of Maxine’s in Hampstead.
I opened my salon in the late ’60s in Hampstead, England. At that time it was another London suburb. I knew it was wealthy area but not much more. I was married to Maxine—beautiful, talented in design and dressmaking, and a great cook. I was truly a very lucky man.
’In the ’60s, David had done some photo shoots for my friend Vidal Sassoon of a hair style that changed how to cut a head of hair.’
We soon realized that Hampstead was the best place for a salon near central London, similar to Greenwich Village in New York. We met Caroline Neville, then in public relations and now a life-long friend. Caroline started Maxine and me on this wonderful an exciting rollercoaster called PR.
Jean explained that her daughter Martine, who knew me in London for years, was married to renowned photographer David Montgomery. I had a precious opportunity to see his work and am honored to tell his story.
It is amazing how the web of life comes together when you meet strangers who are connected with you from way back, as David and his wife were with me.
Susan’s introduction to the Kings brought David back into my life. Here we were—four Brits living in Boca and two more who come in twice a year.
HAIRCUT SENSATION: David Montgomery's photo of model Grace Coddington. Her haircut by Vidal Sassoon caused a sensation around the world. (Courtesy of David Montgomery)
In the ’60s, David had done some photo shoots for my friend Vidal Sassoon of a hair style that changed how to cut a head of hair. This haircut and photo of model Grace Coddington marked the turning point in world hairdressing. Grace was a young model from London and now is Creative Director for American Vogue.
David told me how he first handled the “black box”—his camera:
(Courtesy of David Montgomery)
(Courtesy of David Montgomery)
(Courtesy of David Montgomery)
(Courtesy of David Montgomery)
(Courtesy of David Montgomery)
“The few cameras that I remember with a stark clarity—this has nothing to do with photography per se—was the special shape, the deep black-leather finish, surrounded by an array of silver knobs and buttons. Usually there was a dial that turned when you snapped the lens.
“There always seemed to be spaces on the camera filled with strange and mystical numbers—like 2.8, 5.6, or 9.5. What could this strange code be and produce? Another set of numbers presented a whole new dimension to a child’s view of the world. The numbers on the lens of the camera relate to the distance of the subject to the front of the lens, ensuring sharp focus.
“I questioned my father about a rather strange number, something that looked like 8, but was on its side like it was sick. It also seemed to take up more space than the other numbers. What was this strange-looking thing? It seemed he had a special look on his face when he said, ‘That stands for infinity!’
“From that moment on, part of my little world changed. My father let me hold the camera as I am trying to understand and fathom this out. It has no ending—no final brick wall.
“As I sat and held the camera on my lap, the lens was pointed up to the sky. When I looked into this very clean, blue-coated piece of special glass, I could see clouds drifting and a bright white dot. ‘That must be part of the secret,’ I thought. I looked at my father and realized he let me into his big secret.
“From what I could pick up from him and his photo buddies … what they were trying to do was just record on film whatever was in front of them. Nothing artistic—just a moment in time.”
According to his resume, Q Magazine has heralded David Montgomery in a recent special edition on Psychedelia “as having produced some of the most iconic images of the sixties.” Brooklyn-born, Montgomery “fell in love with the soft, romantic English light and took up residence in London, where he continues to live with his family.”
He has photographed the highborn and big-name celebrities of yesterday and today. His press sheet names some who have sat for his camera: HM Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen Mother, Prince Andrew, Prince Harry, Lord Mountbatten, Baroness Margaret Thatcher, Lord Hume, Edward Heath, Jack Straw, Bill Clinton, Pierre Trudeau, HM King Hussein, Cardinal Basil Hume, Andy Warhol, Lucien Freud, David Hockney, Francis Bacon, Howard Hodgkin, Josef Bouys, Bill Brant, Gilbert & George, Conrad Shawcross, Cathy de-Monchaux, Grayson Perry, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Jean Shrimpton, Terence Stamp, professor Stephen Hawking, Alfred Hitchcock, Muhammad Ali, Bing Crosby, Sir Paul McCartney, Chrissy Hinde, Pierce Brosnan, Clint Eastwood, Sean Connery, Barbara Streisand, and The Clash, U2—to name a few.
Thank you so much, David, for your memory in time.
Mr. Harold Leighton was in the midst of the English style scene when the Beatles were drawing all eyes toward Britain.
