Brooklyn photographer reveals wild A-lister stories — like that time Beyoncé canceled for a dentist appointment

nypost.com:

Internationally renowned Israeli-born photographer Rafael Fuchs has always used his art to push boundaries and highlight the absurdities of modern life — even during wartime.Called to serve in Lebanon in 1983 while he was still an art student at Jerusalem’s prestigious Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design brought his avant-garde style to the battlefield.“I started taking picture showing how ridiculous war is,” Fuchs told The Post in Brooklyn on Wednesday.Fuchs began subverting the war photography genre by taking a series of self-portraits, in typical battle scenes, donned in Japanese Butoh-inspired theatrical makeup to highlight his anxiety about serving.“Where does it say in the Israeli army rule book that a soldier cannot perform his duties with makeup on?” Fuchs had asked his then-commanding officer.Following graduation and a stint in Paris where he was noticed by the eminent curator Francois Hebel, Fuchs emigrated to New York, where he was immediately enchanted by the city’s “spontaneity.”“It was hot.

It was May 1st. I was sweating … I was like, ‘This is my place.'”After struggling to make a name for himself in the Big Apple, Fuchs’ first big break came when he was hired by Entertainment Weekly to photograph Kathy Najimy in 1994.“After five years of shooting this and shooting that, it was like I was scratching behind the table.

And all of a sudden I feel like I am on the table. Still, there is a big mountain here but at least I can see.”This began Fuchs’ career as a celebrity portrait photographer.

He is currently showcasing some of his favorite snaps at his show “Luminaries” at the Printique gallery in Park Slope, which opened on Thursday.“Luminaries” features portraits of Pink, Beyoncé with Destiny’s Child, David.