Dovima biography of william

William Helburn
Dovima Opera Box, 1953

William Helburn Biography American fashion and advertising photographer, William Helburn, is best known for his photographs of his decade’s most elegant women, Dorian Leigh, Dovima, Suzy Parker, Jean Shrimpton, Angela Howard, Jean Patchett, Lauren Hutton, and Sharon Tate. He is a contemporary of Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and Lillian Bassman. Throughout his career Helburn aimed to grab the viewer’s attention, contextualizing his models in images that jumped off the page. Helburn was born in New York City in 1924 and attended public and private schools in Manhattan and took classes at The Art Students League of New York, before joining the U.S Army Air Force in 1942. Helburn served in the Pacific theater where he and future partner Ted Croner learned to make contact sheets and develop film, including the first pictures of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima. After the war Helburn and Croner resolved to become fashion photographers. The two men enrolled in Harper’s Bazaar Art Director Alexey Brodovitch’s Design Laboratory, a workshop for aspiring photographers and graphic designers. While the partnership with Croner soon ended, studying with Brodovitch led to Helburn’s first major assignment, a ten-page editorial shoot in the March 1949 edition of Junior Bazaar. Helburn was at the top of his profession from the early 1950s through the 1960s, with bylined covers and editorial images in the pages of Harper’s Bazaar, LIFE, McCall’s, and many other magazines. He also became a successful director of TV commercials in the early 1980s. Helburn’s awards include thirteen American Institute of Graphic Arts Certificates of Excellence, Fifty Advertisements of the Year and three ‘Clio Awards for Advertising Excellence Worldwide.

  • Helburn was born in New
  • William HELBURN

    William HELBURN, a Visionary in Fashion Photography

    William HELBURN, a renowned photographer, has left an indelible mark on the world of fashion and advertising photography throughout his career spanning several decades.

    Born on February 19, 1924, in New York, and passing away on November 3, 2020, HELBURN developed a distinctive style that captured the very essence of elegance and innovation of his time.

    In the ’50s and ’60s, William HELBURN became a major contributor to the fashion scene, collaborating with renowned magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle, as well as prestigious luxury brands like Dior, Audi, Supima, Revlon, Coca-Cola, and Max Factor. His images transcended mere advertising photographs to become true works of art. Through his ability to merge timeless elegance with a contemporary touch, William HELBURN contributed to redefining the aesthetic standards of his era.

    Read the biography of William HELBURN

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  • William Helburn Biography American fashion
  • William HELBURN, a renowned photographer, has
  • William Helburn
    Dovima Under the El, Dior Creates Cosmopolitan Drama, Under 3rd Avenue elevated train, New York, NY , 1956

    William Helburn Biography American fashion and advertising photographer, William Helburn, is best known for his photographs of his decade’s most elegant women, Dorian Leigh, Dovima, Suzy Parker, Jean Shrimpton, Angela Howard, Jean Patchett, Lauren Hutton, and Sharon Tate. He is a contemporary of Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and Lillian Bassman. Throughout his career Helburn aimed to grab the viewer’s attention, contextualizing his models in images that jumped off the page. Helburn was born in New York City in 1924 and attended public and private schools in Manhattan and took classes at The Art Students League of New York, before joining the U.S Army Air Force in 1942. Helburn served in the Pacific theater where he and future partner Ted Croner learned to make contact sheets and develop film, including the first pictures of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima. After the war Helburn and Croner resolved to become fashion photographers. The two men enrolled in Harper’s Bazaar Art Director Alexey Brodovitch’s Design Laboratory, a workshop for aspiring photographers and graphic designers. While the partnership with Croner soon ended, studying with Brodovitch led to Helburn’s first major assignment, a ten-page editorial shoot in the March 1949 edition of Junior Bazaar. Helburn was at the top of his profession from the early 1950s through the 1960s, with bylined covers and editorial images in the pages of Harper’s Bazaar, LIFE, McCall’s, and many other magazines. He also became a successful director of TV commercials in the early 1980s. Helburn’s awards include thirteen American Institute of Graphic Arts Certificates of Excellence, Fifty Advertisements of the Year and three ‘Clio Awards for Advertising Excellence Worldwide.

    William HELBURN, a Visionary in Fashion Photography

    William HELBURN, a renowned photographer, has left an indelible mark on the world of fashion and advertising photography throughout his career spanning several decades. Born on February 19, 1924, in New York, and passing away on November 3, 2020, HELBURN developed a distinctive style that captured the very essence of elegance and innovation of his time.

    Early Years of William HELBURN

    From his early beginnings, William HELBURN demonstrated exceptional talent in capturing the decisive moment. After studying photography at the Art Students League of New York, he quickly emerged as one of the most promising photographers of his generation. His early works for Harper’s Bazaar Junior in 1949, often characterized by audacity and creativity, drew attention from the fashion industry.

    William HELBURN’s Influence in Fashion

    In the ’50s and ’60s, William HELBURN became a major contributor to the fashion scene, collaborating with renowned magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle, as well as prestigious luxury brands like Dior, Audi, Supima, Revlon, Coca-Cola, and Max Factor. His images transcended mere advertising photographs to become true works of art. Through his ability to merge timeless elegance with a contemporary touch, William HELBURN contributed to redefining the aesthetic standards of his era.

    William HELBURN – Joanna McCormick – Limo, New-York 1951

    A Unique Style

    What sets HELBURN apart from other fashion photographers of his time is his unique approach and distinctive style. In an era where fashion photography was often defined by rigid standards, HELBURN dared to push boundaries. His shots were imbued with bold creativity and a willingness to break conventions.

    William HELBURN didn’t just follow fashion trends; he often led them. He was recognized for his innovative use of light, color, and composition. His images were often ma