‘Black and White’, Mary Jane Russell, Le Pavillon, New York, Harper’s Bazaar, 1950 by Lillian Bassman via
Henry Clarke, Suzy Parker wearing Givenchy, 1952 via
Lisa Fonssagrives in Charles James Suit, photographed by Horst P. Horst for Vogue, 1950 via
Carmen Dell’Orefice in Paris, 1950s, photo by Richard Avedon via
Dorian Leigh wearing Madame Grés by Henry Clarke in 1955 via
Traina-Norell dress 1957, photo by Karen Radkai (model could be Sunny Harnett) via
From his early days as a photographer up to his death Norman Parkinson remained one of the foremost British portrait and fashion photographers. His work, following the lead of Martin Munkacsi at Harper’s Bazaar, revolutionised the world of British fashion photography in the 1940s by bringing his models from the rigid studio environment into a far more dynamic outdoor setting. Humour played a central role in many of his photographs which often included himself.
From 1935 to 1940 he worked for Harper’s Bazaar and Bystander magazines. During the Second World War he served as a reconnaissance photographer over France for the Royal Air Force. In 1947 he married the actress and model Wenda Rogerson. From 1945 to 1960 he was employed as a portrait and fashion photographer for Vogue.
Norman Parkinson via
Norman Parkinson Zulu War Dance, British Vogue, 1951 via
Ms Wenda Rogerson shot for Vogue, South Africa, 1951 © Norman Parkinson. Courtesy Norman Parkinson Archive, normanparkinson.com via
Anne Gunning in dress by Susan Small, photo by Norman Parkinson (India feature) for Vogue UK, Dec 1956 via
Barbara Mullen. Delhi, India, November 1956 via
Carmen dell Orefice, Vogue, July, 1959 via
