Photographer of High Fashion

Clarke took the next step and moved away to Paris in 1949. There his friend Robert Randall reintroduced him to the fashion world and in the span of one year Henry began collaborating with the editions of Vogue that would last more than a quarter century.

Vogue 1972 Sophia Loren

Vogue 1962

Vogue 1967 – Twiggy

He began producing pictures of elegance, but they still had the edge of New York realism which made them even more fascinating. His first picture was of the model Leigh posing against the background of a painting of two naked figures locked in an embrace. He made a picture of a regular elegant woman emit intense sexuality.

Model wearing Manguin’s white satin gown, mink stole, and pearls 1951

Vogue – September 1955 Model in Balmain Skirt and Sealskin Cape, 1951

Christmas Presents – December 1953 Vogue

With the help of the most glamorous models of their time which included Suzy Parker, Dorian Leigh, and Marisa Berenson Henry Clarke was able to excite his audience with his photographs. He was known in capturing the elegance of these woman making them look young, seductive and carefree.

Model Dorian Leigh 1956

Marisa Berenson

Marisa Berenson for Halston 1969

Ms. Train, one of Henry's good friends explained that another one of his gifts was, "always making the women he photographed look beautiful." She said that his images were the epitome of sophistication, with wisps of veil making eyes mysterious and lens magic creating more swanlike necks for his models.

Henry Clarke had a gift when it came to photographing, he knew exactly which angles would make the picture perfect. This allowed him to take celebrity portraits which included woman such as Coco Chanel, Sophia Loren, Aubrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Anna Magnani.

Elizabeth Taylor

Suzy Parker

Coco Chanel

Aubrey Hepburn

In the 1960’s Henry was even sent by the editor of Vogue Diana Vreeland to exotic locations such as Syria, Iran, Indian and mexico to create exciting fresh new fashion layouts.

Model posed against the walls of the Temple of Warriors in Chichen Itza, Mexico. The model is wearing a shimmering ivory and gold jump suit by Christian Dior.

Model standing on tile steps beside the stone walls of the Castello San' Nicola outside Palermo, Italy, wearing a large brimmed red hat with a red chiffon pleated dress, a row of buttons up the front with chin high collar by Junior Sophisticates, 1967

Model in gold embroidered turquoise Lanvin-Castillo dress in the Theater of King Louis XV at Versailles

Model in Jag Niwas an island palance in the Rajasthan region of India in 1967.

Unlike most photographers around the 60’s and 70’s, Clarke became so well known in the fashion industry because he never victimized woman and accepted that fashion, although very beautiful and extraordinary, is merely the stuff we put on our backs. He focused on the woman and captured their true emotion in a picture which gave off the elegance in a picture.