Cecil Beaton.

One of the earliest photographers was Cecil Beaton (1904 – 1980). It is believed that his first photographic experience came from his nanny who owned a Kodak 3A camera and used it to teach him the basics of photography. Beaton would often send his work off to magazines and his big break came when his work was published by Vogue, who took him on regularly in 1927. Alongside working for Vogue and Vanity Fair, Beaton also took photographs of celebrities in Hollywood. It is these particular portraits which caught my attention and they are still published today. 

Beaton photographed a range of widely known influential people such as Winston Churchill, Elizabeth Taylor and Mick Jagger. The majority of these portraits are high contrast and in black and white. The excellent use of chiaroscuro (enhanced by appropriate use of lighting and shadows) makes each tone stand out against each other, creating a bold and eye-catching image. In some images, like the first one, the use of a shallow depth of field keeps the attention on the model and away from the background; this suggests that the background may be irrelevant. The models are central in the images ensuring all focus is on them.

The first and third photos show the models engaging with the audience by using eye contact. This makes the audience feel connected to them, it is like they are giving you an insight into their world. In the first image with Elizabeth Taylor, her facial expression is inviting. Usually, people ask questions and then raise their brows to invite an answer. The raised eyebrow may signal that Taylor is seeking attention. However, they could also signal attraction. With her raised brows and intense eye contact, Taylor implies openness with the audience.

In the top right image with Audrey Hepburn, her wide eyes indicate shock and maybe fear. These emotions are reinforced by her touching her face with her hands to show that she is uncomfortable. She is stationary and not reacting hugely to having her picture taken, this suggests that although she may have been unaware that she was being photographed, she is at ease with the person behind the lens. The audience may feel that they are being shown what Hepburn is really like when she isn’t acting. In contrast to this image is the lastone in which she seems to have taken on a role. The posing and styling in the image reflect the Egyptian queen Nefertiti. Her sculpture is very famous and has been copied as an example of aloof elegance. In this image, Hepburn is posing like Nefertiti and is also wearing a hat similar to one the ‘Royal Wife’ used to wear. Her imitation of Nefertiti suggests superiority and a royal elegance.

The second image shows Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe looking just out of shot. She has an emerging smile and her facial expression shows awe and admiration. Her dreamy look may be interpreted as romantic, she could be looking at someone she loves.  Her bare shoulders reveal that she is completely in her comfort zone and again reinforce that she may be with her lover.

Beaton really took advantage of the growing interest in celebrity culture and his extensive portfolio gave audiences an insight into the lives of the upper class. This may be one of the reasons why his work is so popular, even to this day. We as a society seem obsessed with celebrity culture and the media strive daily to find out more and more personal information about people in the public eye. They say that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ and from looking at portraits you can begin to form an idea about the personality behind the face.

From analysing Beaton’s work, I have learnt that you can reveal plenty about someone’s character using facial expressions and body language. Shots like these are easy to create and I would love to attempt a go myself.