Luck and Strange Studio/Live

An astonishingly intimate photo chronicle by Polly Samson of the recording, rehearsals and live performances of David Gilmour’s critically acclaimed fifth solo album, Luck and Strange, will be published by Thames & Hudson, priced £40, on Thursday 16th October 2025. You can pre-order the book here.

With unrestricted access – studio, backstage, on stage, playing and at play – Polly Samson captures every aspect of the creative process in the making of the No.1 album and the performances that followed of the sell-out international tour. Using her favourite 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 colour shots of the electrifying live performances. Sometimes poignant, often humorous, behind-the-scenes shots sit alongside dramatic on-stage images in this revelatory visual diary.

This beautifully produced book also features the unmistakeable hand lettering of Anton Corbijn on the cover and throughout, an interview by rock photographer Jill Furmanovsky with Polly Samson that sheds light on a photographer’s craft, as well as providing insights into Polly’s relationship with David. The 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 earlier part of 2026.