User:Nigel Arthur

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Fred Daniels was a pioneer of stills photography in the film industry using a plate camera. His innovative techniques and experiments with light created a more sophisticated still image. Michael Powell A Life in Movies published by Heinemann 1986. Daniels was born in Churchover, Warwickshire on 26 July 1892 Powell and Pressburger Portrais:Fred Daniels ISBN 978-83-930435-2-1. In 1925 he started his career as a freelance photographer and took stills of dancer and cherographer Margaret Morris that capture the grace and elegance of the human form Margaret Morris Dancing Published by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner 1925. His camera studies were also published in Vogue and Tatler magazines. Daniels entered the film industry in 1929 when he took stills of Anna May Wong at Elstree Studios to promote Piccadilly. The film was a success and in the same year Daniels was hired for the Titanic disaster film Atlantic starring John Longden and Madeline Carroll. In 1932 he photographed Brigitte Helm during the filming of Blue Danube directed by Herbert Wilcox. Daniels was admired by producer H.B. Warner for his beautiful stills and was offered a contract in Hollywood Powell and Pressburger Portrais/Portrety:Fred Daniels ISBN 978-83-930435-2-1. During the 1930s Daniels'career developed with British and Dominionions Film Company and he became their star photographer taking portraits of Anna Neagle. In 1939 Daniels set up his own portrait studio in the West End and he worked for the independent producers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. From his small third floor studio next to the London Trocadero he took portraits of Leslie Howard, Roger Livesey, Sheila Sim, Eric Portman, Wendy Hiller, Kim Hunter and Deborah Kerr. Other sitters included Jennifer Jones and David Niven. In 1955 Powell and Pressburger hired Daniels to promote Battle of the River Plate. Daniels' association with Powell and Pressburger lasted 14 years and covers their most creative period. Although Daniels continued working until 1957 his health deteriorated and he suddenly died of a heart attack in 1959. Powell and Pressburger Portrais:Fred Daniels ISBN 978-83-930435-2-1. A permanent collection of his work is held by the National Portrait Gallery in London and by the Fred Daniels Estate.

Nigel Arthur (talk) 19:00, 19 March 2012 (UTC)

Notes and references Michael Powell A Life in Movies published by Heinemann 1986 The Archers Powell and Pressburger Portrais/Portrety:Fred Daniels published by Twarda Sztuka Foundation 2012 ISBN 978-83-930435-2-1  Margaret Morris Dancing Published by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner 1925  Archive material held at the Heinz Library, National Portrait Gallery External links http://freddanielsphotographer.wordpress.com/ http://www.npg.org.uk http://www.bfi.org.uk http://www.twarda-sztuka.pl