Cornel Lucas was a master of capturing the magic of Hollywood’s Golden Age. In the 1940s and 50s, long before computers could edit photos, he created stunning portraits of some of the biggest stars. Think of those classic, glamorous pictures of actors like Brigitte Bardot and David Niven – Lucas likely took them! He had a knack for making his subjects look their absolute best, using only his camera and clever lighting.
Born in London in 1920, Lucas’s journey into photography began with a camera from his brother and his six sisters as willing models. He honed his skills at the Polytechnic School of Art and a film processing lab. This gave him a strong foundation in both the artistic and technical sides of photography. He was inspired by the great film directors and cinematographers of his time, and he wanted his portraits to capture the same kind of beauty and drama you saw on the big screen.
Lucas was a true artist, and his studio was his canvas. He was famous for using a large 10×12 inch plate camera, which produced incredibly detailed images. But his real secret weapon was light. He could spend hours adjusting lights to get the perfect effect. He aimed to highlight his subjects’ best features and create a sense of mystery and allure. He once said, “It could take three hours to get the lighting right. But, after that, I could make my subject younger than a plastic surgeon could.”
His dedication to his craft paid off. He became the go-to photographer for the British film industry. He worked with stars like Katharine Hepburn, Lauren Bacall, and Jean Simmons, creating images that defined their public image. These weren’t just pictures; they were works of art that captured the essence of these iconic figures.
