Norman Parkinson

Gallery: fashion revolutionary Norman Parkinson¹ (1913 – 1990)

The famed British photographer revolutionised fashion photography when he brought models out of the studio environment into a much more energetic street setting in the 1940s. Humour played an important role in many of his photographs. Parkinson said that no one has the right to take boring photographs.

1. Norman Parkinson CBE (21 April 1913 – 15 February 1990) was an English portrait and fashion photographer. His work revolutionised British fashion photography, as he moved his subjects out of the studio and used outdoor settings. While serving as a Royal Air Force photographer in World War II, he started with Vogue magazine, discovering several famous models. He became an official royal photographer in 1969, taking photographs for Princess Anne’s 19th birthday and the Investiture portrait of Charles III as Prince of Wales. Many other royal portraits included official portraits of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother for her 75th birthday. He was known for using elements of humour in his photographs. Parkinson received many honours during his life including the Royal Photographic Society’s Progress Medal, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the American Society of Magazine Photographers, a Google Doodle, and a British postage stamp. ↩︎