If we talk about past their prime, Meisel is not the only one. So are Leibovitz, M&M, Klein, Jurgen, etc... They solely working right now based on their legacies and connections within the industry. Most of their works have been mediocre for the past few years.
Let's not pretend only Meisel standards have been dropped, the standards of the fashion industry have been dropped significantly since the 2010s. The works that Meisel (or any photographers, stylists, editors) churned out right now are only a reflection of the current time.
And Meisel doesn't need to be in the same league as Avedon, Penn, or Newton. Meisel came from a generation after them and he is great in his generation. It's pointless to compare the two different generations together. Each one of them makes an impact on the industry in a different way. That's like comparing Karl, Yves, or Miuccia to Chanel, Dior, or Balenciaga and saying that they are not great.
I don’t get this constant need some members have to prove that Meisel is past his prime. It seems like everytime there’s a lackluster work from him, there’s this « See, I told you! » kind of feeling.
At some point, everybody is past it prime. Simple as that. The only difference between Meisel and all the greats, from his generation or the generation prior to his, is that his body of work is really focused on fashion.
All others photographers, at some point, went more into an « Art » direction, doing portraits, setting exhibitions, releasing books, doing more special projects less fashion related. Penn wasn’t really trendy in the 80’s, before Anna made him made his return in the pages of Vogue, but he did other things. Newton either at some point wasn’t really hot. He admitted choosing a lot of things based on money. It was the only motivation…But, he continued to do Amazing portraits of rich people in rich situations from Monte Carlo to LA. Testino had his towel series and stuff, Avedon did exhibitions and portraits that solidified his place in the Art world…And sometimes, he would do a fabulous campaign for Hermès, reminding us how great he is, without necessarily challenging himself.
We are in TFS, we are snobbish and classist in every way possible but I don’t mind Meisel shooting Kim. He shot Nicole Richie.
It’s pretentious to assume that someone like him can’t be fascinated by this phenomenon. She is part of pop culture and he has done everything in his life…
It’s like Jean Paul Goude. He photographed Kim, he was a bit ashamed about it after because Grace didn’t liked it but it’s phenomenon nobody can escape. Meisel is not chasing money at this point, he is booked each season. So I really think he respond to what his collaborators suggests him…