EXCLUSIVE: Left baffled by Brooklyn Beckham’s laughable attempt at photographing an elephant, the Daily Star asked some experts about how the celebrity kid might have done better
Brooklyn Beckham’s family life might be getting a little bit tense at the moment – but at least he’s still got his hobbies…like his much-maligned photography.
The wannabe chef, 26, has been in the spotlight after he alleged yesterday mum Victoria “danced very inappropriately on me” at his wedding. Of course – any extra attention the Beckham’s eldest receives invites further scrutiny of his “abominable” photography.
In 2017, the model proved that with a bit of grit and determination (and cash) celebrities’ kids really can accomplish anything, publishing a photography book entitled What I See.
The collection of allegedly “iconic” snaps from Brooklyn’s life was launched in a glitzy event in LA that year. Ticket-holders were even given an opportunity to “view” Brooklyn, as if he was Lenin’s corpse.
Sadly for Brooklyn, 18 at the time, the book was panned by critics who dubbed his work “terrible”. Many raised questions over celebrity children being given more opportunities over the less famous/fortunate.
One particular photo of an elephant in Kenya garnered a great deal of ridicule. The picture – taken in shadow – gave a clear view of a sunlit background but not a lot else. Brooklyn’s endearingly primitive caption read: “so hard to photograph but incredible to see.”
But woah there now – isn’t photography, like all art, subjective? Maybe we shouldn’t be too harsh on the young lenseman. Well, the Daily Star spoke to some photography experts about the elephant pic and…turns out we can be as harsh as we like.
“Car wreck”
Paul Goldstein, who has been photographing elephants for forty years, dubbed Brooklyn’s efforts a “car wreck”, although admitting the beasts were challenging to photograph.
“A very long or wide lens are the best options,” explained Paul. “Sensitivity, understanding and research are also key words. The most savage critic of your work has to be yourself, nothing should be sugar-coated.
“This image in Brooklyn’s much commented upon book is nowhere near the perfect shot and is frankly a car wreck of a photo. Where do I start?”
The camera veteran offered some guidance to the dilettante Brooklyn.
- It is not sharp.
- The silhouette format may work at sunset in profile but not here.
- It is shot at entirely the wrong time of day.
- It looks as though it is in a messy garden no one has tended for years.
- There is no detail and the exposure is way off, it is far too bright, he needs to get up much earlier next time.
“This may sound brutal but at least Mr Beckham Jnr has travelled to the Rift Valley and photographed them and hopefully been moved by this remarkable creature.”
Not all bad
Neal Cooper from CNP Safaris was slightly more forgiving about Brooklyn’s work.
“That was probably Brooklyn’s first view of an African elephant, and he was happy to have taken the picture,” he told the Daily Star. “We all start like that and build our portfolios through trial and error and professional guidance.”
Cooper may have winked as he offered to happily “support Brooklyn in building a great wildlife portfolio”.
Amateur’s take
Even budding wildlife photographer and Deputy Editor in Chef at the Daily Star, Andy Gilpin had some choice words for mini Golden Balls.
“Anyone who has seen my camera roll (six pictures of the inside of my pocket) will know, I’m no David Bailey*,” Gilpin yelled incredulously from his desk.
“But on safari I managed to do something a guy with bucket loads of time, cash, the right gear and expert help couldn’t – take a valid picture of an elephant.”
“I was on safari in Zambia and answering the big questions. What do you do when there’s a hippo outside your front door? Who wins between a leopard and a porcupine? Can you actually take a picture of an elephant?
“For the latter, yes. In fact, I took a few. I even managed to get a selfie with an elephant in the background. All in focus where you could see the elephant’s face.
“I wouldn’t say we became pals but exchanged looks and nodded heads/trunks. He won’t forget it in a hurry. And I won’t either, as unlike Brooklyn, I took a bloody picture of it.
“*David Bailey may not be the go-to ‘world famous photographer’ reference it once was. But then neither is ‘Brooklyn Beckham’.”
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