The book takes fans inside the music legend’s fifth album and latest tour
On January 6th, Thames & Hudson will publish Luck and Strange – Studio/Live, an astonishingly intimate photographic chronicle by Polly Samson of the recording, rehearsals, and live performances of David Gilmour’s critically acclaimed fifth solo album, Luck and Strange.
With unrestricted access—studio, backstage, on stage, playing, and at play—photographer Polly Samson captures every aspect of the creative process in the making of David Gilmour’s No. 1 album, Luck and Strange, and the performances that followed of the sell-out international tour.
Using her favorite Leica lenses and cameras, Polly shifts gears as studio photos—often candle-lit and shot on grainy black-and-white film—transition into vibrant digital color shots of the electrifying live performances. Sometimes poignant, often humorous, behind-the-scenes shots sit alongside dramatic on-stage images in this revealing visual diary.
This beautifully produced book also features the unmistakable hand lettering of Anton Corbijn on the cover and throughout, and an interview by rock photographer Jill Furmanovsky with Polly Samson that sheds light on a photographer’s craft and provides insights into Samson’s relationship with Gilmour. The book’s Foreword is written by the late Alan Yentob.
Polly Samson is working on an exhibition of her work with Leica Gallery London to be shown in the early part of 2026.
