Herb Ritts. Fred with Tires, The Body Shop, Los Angeles, 1984
Photo Credit: Mutual Art

Today we’re posting another iconic image by Herb Ritts, ‘Fred with Tires’ which is one of his most celebrated works and singled out for its masterful interplay of light, shadow, and form. This photograph is part of a larger series of images featuring Fred and the same industrial tire setting. It almost feels like the masculine version of Richard Avedon’s Dovima with Elephants while also very relatable to Lewis Hine’s Powerhouse Mechanic, which we posted last month.

This photo by Ritts, is characterised by strong contrasts between light and dark, highlighting the texture of the tires and the muscular definition of the model. The interplay of light and shadow produces a tactile quality, making elements like the rubber of the tires and the sweat on the skin almost palpable. Then also, Fred, the model, was not a traditional fashion model but was instead someone whose physicality told a story. The industrial setting and utilitarian tires added to the narrative, moving fashion photography from the studios to real-world settings.

As mentioned in our previous post, Ritts was known for his preference for natural light, believing it brought an organic, authentic quality to his images. There’s no definitive information indicating that a flash was used in the “Fred with Tires” series. Given Ritts’ general approach to lighting and the aesthetic of the image, it’s more likely that he used natural light for this particular photograph.

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