John French (photographer)
Encyclopedia
John French (1 March 1907–21 July 1966) was an English fashion and portrait photographer.
Born in Edmonton, London
, French originally trained and worked as a commercial artist, becoming a photographic director in an advertising studio just before World War II
, during which he served as an officer in the Grenadier Guards
.
In 1948 he set up his own photographic studio. Working originally with the Daily Express
he pioneered a new form of fashion photography
suited to reproduction in newsprint, involving where possible reflected natural light and low contrast. He also undertook portrait photography
. French himself devoted much attention to the set and posing of his models, but left the actual triggering of the shutter to assistants, amongst whom were Terence Donovan
and David Bailey.
French died of lymphoma
in the Royal Marsden Hospital. In 1942 he had married Vere Denning (1910–91), a fashion journalist, who gave his photographic archive to the Victoria and Albert Museum
.
Born in Edmonton, London
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
, French originally trained and worked as a commercial artist, becoming a photographic director in an advertising studio just before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which he served as an officer in the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
.
In 1948 he set up his own photographic studio. Working originally with the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
he pioneered a new form of fashion photography
Fashion photography
Fashion photography is a genre of photography devoted to displaying clothing and other fashion items. Fashion photography is most often conducted for advertisements or fashion magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, or Elle...
suited to reproduction in newsprint, involving where possible reflected natural light and low contrast. He also undertook portrait photography
Portrait photography
Portrait photography or portraiture is the capture by means of photography of the likeness of a person or a small group of people , in which the face and expression is predominant. The objective is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the subject...
. French himself devoted much attention to the set and posing of his models, but left the actual triggering of the shutter to assistants, amongst whom were Terence Donovan
Terence Donovan (photographer)
Terence Daniel Donovan was a British photographer and film director, best remembered for his fashion photography of the 1960s. He oversaw the music video to Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" and "Simply Irresistible".Donovan was born in Stepney in the East End of London to Lilian Constance V...
and David Bailey.
French died of lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
in the Royal Marsden Hospital. In 1942 he had married Vere Denning (1910–91), a fashion journalist, who gave his photographic archive to the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
.