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C all him a living legend. For that is precisely what photographer Bruce Weber is. With a career that spans four decades, the 70-year-old mastermind has won his share of wild acclaim, controversy, and fame. His work has filled the pages — and often graced the covers — of the world's most revered publications. From Vogue to Vanity Fair, Glamour to GQ, Weber's iconic images have defined brands and permeated pop culture. Who could forget his provocative ads for Calvin Klein Jeans in the '90s, or those sexually suggestive teens for Abercrombie & Fitch? Without Weber, would the aristocratic air of Ralph Lauren even exist? This month, Dallas Contemporary reveals a lesser-seen side of Weber, with its megawatt exhibition "Far From Home," through March 12, 2017. With more than 250 photographs shot by the artist during his travels, many of which have never been exhibited, the show is a glimpse into Weber's world by way of images and short films. At a time when fashion photography is more digital than ever, Weber is a purist. Mentored by pioneers Diane Arbus and Lisette Model, he works exclusively with film. His camera preferences are a Pentax 6x7, Lecia 35mm, or Rolleiflex. Yet his visual genius is not limited to print. As a filmmaker, Weber has directed seven motion pictures. In 1989, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Let's Get Lost, a documentary he directed and produced about jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. Most recently, film has crossed into fashion, with Weber producing short video campaigns for Louis Vuitton and Versace. In between summer shoots, Weber talks to us about wanderlust, his prized National Geographic collection, and a good laugh he had with a certain Duchess of Devonshire. Rural Pennsylvania and wandering parents. I remember several occasions growing up when my parents would just take off for a couple of months to Europe. My sister was packed off to her Catholic boarding school © CHRIS DOMURAT Bruce and Tai, Hollywood, 2012 — which was a little strange, considering we were Jewish — and I was left in the care of our housekeeper. During these times, it was really my grandparents who looked after me. They conveniently lived next door. My grandmother played the piano beautifully, and my grandfather traveled quite a bit, working as he did in the tobacco trade. I think I really caught the travel bug from my grandparents. They would show me photographs from trips they had taken to Switzerland and Italy. Travel has never been a means to an end for me as a photographer. It's always been more important for me to just lose myself in the experience and fantasy of a place. Cool cowboys in Spain. When we went to Spain with Kate Moss and Karen Elson for Italian Vogue, we came upon a house in the hills near Seville that looked like something out of A Fistful of Dollars. We knocked, and a handsome gentleman dressed as a cowboy opened the door. I couldn't believe it — there in the middle of Spain. I explained that we loved how his house looked and asked if we could use it to do a picture. He said, "Of course, we're just going out for the day." I couldn't believe someone would just give us run of their house like that and leave. The place was beautiful inside, so perfectly done — I thought maybe his wife helped put it together. But he came back later in the day with his boyfriend. The two of them just lived there together, as cowboys, in Spain. So unexpected! On the iconic photo of the late Deborah, the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, feeding chickens while wearing an evening gown. We were upstairs at Chatsworth, in the Duchess' bedroom, as she told us some funny stories about her collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia while showing us her collection of Jean Patou dresses. We were with the stylist Joe McKenna and the Duchess' granddaughter, the model Stella Tennant, who had this kind of punk-rock haircut at the time. She said, "Grandmother, I just want to warn you about some photographs I have coming out soon in a magazine. I'm nude in some of them." The Duchess replied, "Oh, I don't care about that. But what can we do about this haircut you have?" We all had a big laugh, and I asked the Duchess what she'd like to do for the next photo. She suggested feeding her beloved chickens, so that's what we did. Take a road trip to the Dallas Contemporary, which reveals a lesser-seen side of Bruce Weber with its "Far From Home" exhibition (through March 12, 2017). Dallas Contemporary, 161 Glass St., 214.821.2522, dallascontemporary.org. 29