David Bowie Smoking in Los Angeles, 1975

This David Bowie photograph by Terry O’Neill was taken in Los Angeles in 1975 during the filming of The Man Who Fell to Earth. The image captures Bowie walking alone outdoors, dressed in a tailored overcoat, hat, and sunglasses. The setting and posture reflect a restrained public persona during a transitional period in his career.

At the time, Bowie was preparing for his starring role as Thomas Jerome Newton, an extraterrestrial navigating human society. The film, directed by Nicolas Roeg, marked Bowie’s first major leading role in cinema. Production coincided with a period of intense artistic experimentation, both musically and visually.

Rather than portraying Bowie in character, O’Neill photographed him between moments. The image avoids theatrical styling and focuses on movement and silhouette. Bowie’s attire reflects the pared-back elegance that accompanied his work in the mid-1970s.

Throughout his career, Terry O’Neill was known for documenting cultural figures outside formal settings. His approach relied on observation rather than direction. This David Bowie photograph reflects that method, presenting the artist without performance or affectation.

The composition emphasizes distance and isolation. Bowie’s figure is framed against open space, reinforcing themes associated with The Man Who Fell to Earth. The photograph also aligns with broader visual narratives from this era of Bowie’s work, where identity and transformation were recurring subjects.

As a document of 1970s popular culture, this David Bowie photograph holds lasting significance. It records a moment when Bowie’s influence extended beyond music into film and visual art. The image remains an important example of Terry O’Neill’s ability to capture defining moments through restraint and timing.