In the late 1990s, while undertaking City & Guilds photography at night school, I was tasked with writing a 2000-word assignment on a photographer. This idea terrified me, as I didn’t consider myself “arty” at the time. Many of my classmates, perhaps predictably, chose the seminal Ansel Adams, which was a natural fit given we were working in black and white and learning wet darkroom techniques.
However, while searching for inspiration at Leeds City Library—yes, a real library, before the days of the internet—I stumbled upon Cecil Beaton: War Photographer. I was familiar with Beaton, mostly for his work in Hollywood and his Oscar for My Fair Lady, but I had no idea about his extensive work as a photographer during World War II. To my surprise, Beaton was Britain’s most prolific war photographer, with over 7,000 images to his name.
Beaton’s photography didn’t carry the same raw intensity seen in the images from Vietnam by photographers like Don McCullin. His role during the war was more about capturing images for the Ministry of Information—shots that could be used for propaganda. Beaton wasn’t allowed on the front lines; instead, his task was to show the world the resilience of the Allies and to present a version of the war that was suitable for public consumption. His work often illustrated the Hollywood glamour side of wartime, while also highlighting the enduring human spirit, such as in his striking image: A man and his daughter pass posters in Cairo, Egypt, 1942.
In this photograph, Beaton captures a moment of peace and normalcy amidst the backdrop of global chaos, an image of life going on despite the horrors of war. This theme runs through many of his posed and candid shots, whether of victims, soldiers, or officers. While these images might gloss over the violence of war, they served their intended purpose—showing the Allies as strong, resilient, and united. Beaton’s skill as a Hollywood photographer was used to bring a sense of humanity and even glamour to wartime photography, a contrast to the more direct, visceral images produced by photographers on the front lines.
For those interested, you can explore more of Beaton’s powerful wartime images through The Guardian’s collection . I admire Beaton for taking his celebrity photography skills and applying them to one of the least glamorous subjects—war—and producing world-changing images that have shaped how we view that period in history.
Bibliography
Cecil Beaton (2015) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Beaton (Accessed: 15 December 2015).
Ronk, L. (2014) Cecil Beaton’s war child: Portrait of a young victim of the blitz. Available at: http://time.com/3878665/cecil-beaton-portrait-of-eileen-dunne-1940-london-blitz/ (Accessed: 15 December 2015).
The Guardian (2015) Cecil Beaton’s rare war photography – in pictures. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2012/aug/31/cecil-beaton-war-photography-pictures (Accessed: 15 December 2015).