| Norman Parkinson | |
| Background information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 April 1913
London, UK |
| Occupation | Photographer |
| Died | 15 February 1990 |
| Years active | 1930s-1990 |
| Associated acts | Arcadia |
| Photographer | |
Norman Parkinson (21 April 1913 – 15 February 1990) was a celebrated English portrait and fashion photographer, whose work included photographing Arcadia.
Biography[]
Norman was born in London, and educated at Westminster School. After beginning his career in 1931 as an apprentice to the court photographers Speaight and Sons Ltd of Bond Street, he set up his own studio at the age of 21, working for Harper's Bazaar and The Bystander magazines between 1935 to 1940. Parkinson was noted for taking his sitters out of the studio and encouraging them to move naturally. During the Second World War he served as a reconnaissance photographer over France for the Royal Air Force and later (1945 to 1960) was employed as a portrait and fashion photographer for Vogue.
In 1963, Parkinson moved from Twickenham to Tobago and until his death worked as a freelance photographer. He was one of the first fashion photographers to enjoy personal celebrity and was latterly known as the unofficial royal portraitist. He photographed Arcadia in the mid 1980s and the 2009 book Norman Parkinson: A Very British Glamour includes his photograph of Julie Anne Rhodes.
