Iconic portraiture

Peter Travers pays homage to an iconic nude portrait of Christine Keeler

THE MISSION

Capture an iconic portrait

Time needed

One hour

Skill level

Intermediate

Kit needed

• One studio light

• Softbox

• Black backdrop

• Chair

In this photo project we capture a portrait in the same style as the famous image from 1963 of Christine Keeler as she posed naked while astride a chair. It was shot by Lewis Morley in less than five minutes, during a nude publicity shoot. The most well-known photo was the one that appeared in the Sunday Mirror. It was also the last shot on a 12-exposure film. It was taken at the peak of public attention during the relationship between teenage Keeler and the married secretary of state for war, John Profumo. ‘The Profumo Affair’ inspired many films and a recent BBC TV six-part series.