Black and White Fashion Photography by Georges Dambier

Georges Dambier with his Rolleiflex

One of the first fashion photographers to take models out of the studio and into the streets, Georges Dambier captured the most beautiful women of his time, including Brigitte Bardot, Marie-Hélène Arnaud, Dorian Leigh and Suzy Parker.

Rejecting the standard technique of capturing emotionless models, french photographer Georges Dambier captured his models in the fifties looking ambivalent towards their clothing and the camera, instead laughing, enjoying exotic locations like Marrakesh, Corsica, Sicily, Cannes, Palma de Mallorca and riding in cars and boats. In his 20 years of greatest productivity the photographer was hired by Helene Lazareff director at Elle magazine and started two significant publications, Twenty and V.S.D.

Original French Art Deco Period Poster by Paul Colin, 1928

His friend Robert Capa asked also him to lead a fashion department at Magnum. Unfortunately this never happened: several days later Capa died unexpectedly while working in Vietnam. He then formed his own photo studio Street of Kindness and continues his career as a freelance photographer. Additionally he worked in advertising with big brands like L’Oreal, Dessange and photographed the most important celebrities of the moment.

Monique Chevalier, Vogue 1964, photo by Willy Rizzo

Born in 1925 in Paris, Georges Dambier was one of the most important photographers of his era,  a contemporary of Helmut Newton, Irving Penn and Richard Avedon. He first went to work for famous artist Paul Colin. Colin was responsible for introducing his budding young apprentice to the world of fashion, interiors, antiques and, most of all, to beautiful Parisian women. Then Georges landed a job as assistant to Willy Rizzo, a famous portraitist photographer (Harcourt’s Studio, Paris Match). There, he discovered photography and was taught the fundamentals of this art, especially lighting.The pictures of Georges Dambier speak to us about style, spontaneity, class and elegance, although they took live in the ‘50. The pictures you will see below remain a symbol of fashion photography, and are still a source of inspiration to this day.

The Bonn Bernubi Gallery in New York paid tribute to Georges Dambier, showcasing how the artist captured the essence of feminine chic and glamour in his images, in an exhibition called: Who's That Girl? – Fashioning the Fifties. Peter Fetterman Gallery showcased Dambier's mastery in fashion photography,  with an new set of never seen photographs. The style of his models Bettina, Lucinda, Capucine in his pictures is defined by classic framing, tailored cuts, chic hats and ladylike groves. These pictures represent case studies for the fashion designers of today.

In his late eighties, George Dambier retired to a quieter live in the countryside in Perigord, France. The master passed away in May 2011.

Georges Dambier - The Photographs

 Marie-Hélène Arnaud, French Riviera. Photo by Georges Dambier, 1957.

 Marie-Hélène Arnaud, French Riviera. Photo by Georges Dambier, 1957.

Capucine by Georges Dambier - Elle, Boulevard de la Madeleine, Paris, 1952.

Suzy Parker Shop Lanvin Magazine Elle 1957 by Georges Dambier

Jill Howard, photo by Georges Dambier, Italy, Sicily, 1956

Marie-Helene Arnaud with a fish in Paris, 1957. Image credit: Georges Dambier 

Brigitte Bardot by Georges Dambier, Paris, 1954

Marie-Hélène Arnaud and her MG, Carlton Hotel, Cannes, 1957, photo by Georges Dambier

Lucinda Hollingsworth in London 1959 by Georges Dambier

Lucinda Hollingsworth, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, photo by Georges Dambier, 1958

Lucinda Hollingsworth, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, photo by Georges Dambier, 1958

Lucinda Hollingsworth, London, photo by Georges Dambier, 1959

Lucinda Hollingsworth, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, photo by Georges Dambier, 1958

Ghislaine Arsac at Carlton Hotel, Cannes, photo by Georges Dambier, 1957

 Marie-Hélène Arnaud in elegant black shantung and white piqué suit by Chanel, photo by Georges Dambier, ELLE, February 11, 1957

Marie-Helene Arnaud by Georges Dambier, Eden Roc, Cap d’Antibes, Elle, 1957

Marie-Hélène Arnaud in maillot from Le Printemps, Eden Roc, Cap d’Antibes, photo by Georges Dambier, ELLE, June 10, 1952

Dorian Leigh at the balcony 1954, Photo Georges Dambier

Fiona Campbell-Walter in skirt and ruffled blouse by Christian Dior, Corsica, photo by Georges Dambier, Nouveau Femina, June 1954

Fiona Campbell-Walter in cotton pants and poplin shirt by Jacques Fath and scarf by Hèrmes, Nouveau Femina, June 1954. Photo Georges Dambier

Fiona Campbell-Walter draped in cashmere beach towel by Givenchy, Corsica, photo by Georges Dambier, Nouveau Femina, June 1954

Fiona Campbell Walter with the Hackney Horse, pour ELLE Winter Collection Marc Bohan, Paris (1953) by Georges Dambier

Suzy Parker in suit by Basta and Françoise Dambier in dress by Weil, photo by Georges Dambier, Morocco, ELLE, April 27, 1953

Suzy Parker by Georges Dambier, Morocco, ELLE, April 27, 1953

Anna Karina wearing a dress and hat by Cecile Billard in a March1959 photo by Georges Dambier for Elle magazine

Suzy Parker In Morocco  Elle, 1953 by Georges Dambier