My relationship with David Bowie began on our first shoot. I should have photographed his band Tin Machine for the cover CRIM magazine. I would be the last shoot of a very long press day and I knew I needed to do something different than what they had been doing all day. So I decided to color them with light using a flashlight. I presented the idea to David; he smiled and said, “Show me the Polaroid.” I turned off the lights and started shining the light on their faces. I pulled out the Polaroid and handed it to David. He smiled and said it was one of the most unusual ways he had ever been photographed. A few months later I got a call Rolling Stone. David asked me to shoot him for an article they were writing. This marked the beginning of our 15-year collaboration: David's office called me and asked if I could talk to David. A few minutes later the phone rang and David told me about the project. He brought his clothes and props with him that day. I would imagine ideas on how to light them or stage them, and we would just start playing. His willingness to create in the moment and go in whatever direction took us was one of the most amazing gifts I have ever been given as a photographer. He always wanted to go beyond our comfort zone and trusted me to push myself into the water until my feet no longer touched the bottom.
—Frank Ockenfels 3, author and photographer Collaboration: Frank Ockenfels 3 x David Bowie
Filmed in New York.
Photo: Frank Ockenfels
Ockenfels 3 placed lenses in front of his camera to distort images of David Bowie during their second photo shoot for Earthling in 1996.
Photo: Frank Ockenfels
For the men's photo shoot, Bowie brought his own translucent mannequin, adorned with a ponytail and hooves. New York Times Magazine.
Photo: Frank Ockenfels
Photo: Frank Ockenfels
If these images of David Bowie, taken from his advertisements, were Realityreminds me of Elvis Presley, that's intentional. They are inspired by Presley's 1959 album. 50,000,000 Elvis fans can't be wrong. “This was one of the most extensive shoots that Bowie and Ockenfels 3 did together,” writes Joe Levy in the book’s introduction. Frank Ockenfels 3.
If these images of David Bowie, taken from his advertisements, were Realityreminds me of Elvis Presley, that's intentional. They are inspired by Presley's 195 record.
If these images of David Bowie, taken from his advertisements, were Realityreminds me of Elvis Presley, that's intentional. They are inspired by Presley's 1959 album. 50,000,000 Elvis fans can't be wrong. “It was one of the biggest shoots that Bowie and Ockenfels 3 did together,” writes Joe Levy in the book’s introduction. Frank Ockenfels 3.
Ockenfels 3 shot Bowie. New York A magazine article about his favorite places in the city. He mentioned SoHo House (he was one of the founders), Washington Square Park, the Strand and the home of artist Julian Schnabel.
Photo: Frank Ockenfels
As the collaboration between the Ockenfels 3 and Bowie continued for decades, the book includes two collages with handwritten notes and drawings on excerpts from the singer's songs.
Photo: Frank Ockenfels
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Excerpted from Frank Ockenfels' new book, Collaboration: Frank Ockenfels 3 X David Bowie (Abrams) 3, available wherever books are sold. © 2025 Frank Ockenfels 3
