See Photographer Dafydd Jones’s Party Photos from the 80s and 90s
Photograph by Dafydd Jones.Mick Jagger, Madonna and Tony Curtis at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Mortons, Los Angeles. March 24,1997.
“First Mick was sitting by himself looking bored, and then Madonna crossed the room to sit down next to him. She started talking and he became quite animated. Then Tony Curtis came along and sat down at the same table and started monopolizing Madonna. It should be easy, but I find getting a decent meaningful picture of a party incredibly difficult.”
Photograph by Dafydd Jones.Pop Vincent pushed in by Charles McDowell during the Martin Betts Dance, Ascot, July 23, 1982.
“Not a good idea to have a party in England near a pond. During the evening several guests ended up in the pond.”
Photograph by Dafydd Jones.Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy.
“I was studying art in England and the whole fine-art department went to Florence on an art school trip. We were touring round the Uffizi Gallery. The museum attendants were concerned about something to do with the painting stretcher. I liked the way you can read the [museum attendants] crouching beneath the Titian as something ambiguous. It looks like some kind of act of worship.”
Photograph by Dafydd Jones.Jonathan Shepherd and Ronald Scarfle, Bloody Assizes Dining Society, Oxford, Autumn 1980.
“The Bloody Assizes drinks party picture was taken at the first Oxford party I photographed. I rejected the picture at the time. I thought it wasn’t witty enough and a bit too obvious. But when I came across the old print of it again after 35 years of photographing parties, I realized I’d never seen anyone again with quite such a horrific laugh.”
Photograph by Dafydd Jones.Iris and Brooke Astor.
“Iris and Brooke Astor used my picture on the front of an invite for another dachshund party a year later. Brooke commented on the funny expression on her dachshund’s face.”
Photograph by Dafydd Jones.Ivana Trump during the Fashion Group couture show at the Plaza Hotel, September 5, 1990.
“This was in the middle of the Donald Trump divorce from Ivana which was being played out every day in the press. Everyone was looking at Ivana, a couple of women laughing. Ivana had a forced grin, but for a moment it all was too much for her.”
Photograph by Dafydd Jones.Virginia von Furstenberg at the Volpi Ball in Venice, August 31, 1991.
“I wasn’t on the list for this ball given by Count Volpi. Luckily a friend gave me a ride in a launch, which also included some Greek royals. Virginia von Furstenberg, pictured here, was looking very sad but also beautiful amongst this variety of Venetian textures. Someone said her boyfriend was dancing with another girl.”
Photograph by Dafydd Jones.Kate Moss and Johnny Depp at a Kate Moss book party in New York, September 11, 1995.
“This was an exhibition at James Danziger’s gallery, of all the different pictures of Kate Moss. Amongst the guests was Iggy Pop.”
Photograph by Dafydd Jones.Scarlett Johansson and Naomi Watts at a Charles Finch pre-BAFTA party, San Lorenzo, February 15, 2004.
“*Tatler *editor Geordie Greig, the art director, and I agreed that I would photograph Charles Finch’s annual BAFTA party in black and white. They were the best set of pictures I ever did of Charles’s party. This was the best one and used on the cover of Charles’s book.”
Photograph by Dafydd Jones.Mica Ertegun and Irith Landeau leaving the Literary Lions, New York Public Library, September 11, 1989.
“I’d just moved to New York and wanted to cover the Literary Lions. They had a small group of photographers they gave access to and wouldn’t allow me in. So I stood outside. I remember one of the guests was carried out.”
