In part 2 of their Cecil Beaton special, Hugo Burnand and Cambridge Jones
dive deeper into the photographer’s extraordinary career, exploring his wartime photography and his creative triumph with My Fair Lady. Inspired by the Cecil Beaton exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London, they analyse some of his most iconic portraits including of artist Salvador Dali, and fellow photographer Richard Avedon. They discuss Beaton’s ambition, contradictions, and enduring influence before revealing a surprising personal connection between Beaton and Cambridge.
How did Beaton blend photography, theatre, fashion, drawing and design to
shape 20th-century visual culture?
What we cover in this episode:
Cecil Beaton at war
Commissioned by the Ministry of Information
Iconic Blitz imagery and its global impact
How Beaton’s photographs helped shape public opinion during WWII
The tension between photojournalism and staged artistry
The Power of a Single Image
The wounded child photograph published internationally
How subtle framing choices changed the emotional impact
Why even great photographers struggle to choose “the best” frame
Beaton’s Hollywood years
“Hollywood hero lighting” and radical composition choices
Beaton’s fascination – and discomfort – with Hollywood beauty culture
Embracing colour
Early colour fashion photography for Vogue
Red-on-red fashion portraits and bold stylistic risks
How Beaton adapted to colour while maintaining a graphic eye
Theatre, film and My Fair Lady
Beaton’s return to prominence through stage and costume design
Winning Oscars for My Fair Lady
Why this period marked his true creative renaissance
Art beyond photography
Beaton as a draftsman, diarist, designer, and visual storyteller
Retouching photographs by hand with brushes and ink
The role of drawing and painting in shaping his photographic vision
Personal Revelations
A surprising real-life connection between Cecil Beaton and Cambridge Jones
Reflections on legacy, influence, and forging your own creative path
Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World is at the National
Portrait Gallery until January 11.
Hosted by royal photographer Hugo Burnand and celebrity portrait photographer Cambridge Jones, Double Exposure is the podcast that gives you a new angle on life through the lens of photography. Follow us on Instagram @hugoandjones to see the photographs featured in each episode or visit the Double Exposure podcast on YouTube. Plus, want answers to your own photography questions? Send them to Cambridge and Hugo via Instagram or email at double.exposure@raconteur.tv
Series producer: Eve Streeter
Managing editor: William Miller
Music by Eclectic Sounds
A Raconteur Studios production
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