Norman Parkinson: The Man Who Brought Fashion Photography to the Streets (18 photos)

These days, it's common to see fashion magazine photo shoots taking place on the beach, on a city street, in a forest, or at a stadium. But this wasn't always the case. Even in the early 20th century, such shoots were conducted in studios, until the British photographer Norman Parkinson changed everything. This photographer revolutionized the concept of fashion photography, and his contribution to the art of photography is difficult to overstate.





Norman Parkinson was born in 1913 in London. He became interested in photography in 1931 while working as an assistant in a photo studio. He became so engrossed in the work that he forgot about his duties and was fired. However, his employer was quite favorable to him and even wrote a decent reference, including the words: "A very original young man. Perhaps he will become a photographer."



And he did. And not just a photographer, but one of the most famous in the world. He collaborated with the most popular publications of the 20th century: Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Bystander, Town and Country, and Life. Politicians, actors, pop and sports stars, and members of royal families entrusted him with portraits.

Norman Parkinson's reputation was so significant that he was the first British photographer to be released into the USSR in the 1970s. The maestro's team traveled over 7,000 km across the country, capturing a large series of photographs with model Jerry Hall for British Vogue. Before him, only the American Margaret Bourke-White, who traveled the Soviet Union with her camera in the 1930s, had accomplished such a volume of work.



Parkinson is credited with revolutionizing fashion photography, bringing it out of the studio and into the open air. He made models move naturally, as they had previously been static. The photographer invited women into the studio and then took them to the most unexpected places. His working method was full of life, and this is clearly evident in his work.



Norman Parkinson photographed until his last moments. He died in 1990 at the age of 77 during an on-location photo shoot in Singapore.

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