Vintaligious-Chic: John French - A Monday Tribute to a Legend

My Monday Inspiration this week is John French, the photographer. Photography is an art which most people tend to disregard as an "art". There are thousands of photographers out there, but it takes a special kind of breed to stand out. I guess this is true for every discipline in life. Some people were born with it.

I was drawn to his work when I bumped into one of his photographs whilst doing research for one of my projects. There was something distinct about his photographs - the pictures and the subjects exuded so much elegance and class I couldn't ignore. I could tell that he wasn't just a photographer, but also an artist. I have an affinity to artist, maybe because of my limitations thereof. I guess they fill the creative void that exists in my being; opposites do attract after all (cliche). I sometimes wish it would rub off on me somehow. However, I know I'll have to live with being just a creative side-kick .

Here is a little background about this photography legend I gathered from the Oxford DNB National Biography.

Who is John French

John French ( "French") was born in England on the 1st of March 1907. He attended the Hornsey School of Art from 1926 to 1927. In 1930, he moved to Italy where he studied painting. It was during this period that he began his work as a commercial artist, designing book jackets for various publishers.

Special Technique

French's technical ability and lighting technique, which resulted in clear and beautiful pictures made it possible to use fashion photographs in the the newspaper.

He preferred to work with daylight where possible. He developed a method of lighting his subjects by placing white boards around them to reflect light and eliminate dark shadows.

Character and Work Ethic

French was known to be a perfectionist and professional. He had total control of the styling of his models, and even added accessories where necessary. Talk about a person who enjoyed his job! When you enjoy your job, you do more than the average guy does.

He also encouraged his models to develop and reveal their personalities in his photographs. Note that this was in the 1930's. He taught them how to pose and position their hands. This is a skill I can't seem to grasp. I struggle to position my hands every time a picture is taken of me.

Clientele and Contribution

French worked for numerous clients which included advertising agencies, retailers, designers, trade organisations, and fashion magazines, such as Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, and The Tatler. He also worked with several newspapers such as Sunday Mirror, Daily Express and many more.