Barbara Parkins PHOTOGRAPHY
Barbara Parkins
At the beginning of my acting career starring as bad girl Betty Anderson in the highly successful TV series “Peyton Place”, I brought my camera along to photograph my fellow actors, location and moments. The series ran for six successful years and a wonderful ongoing film and TV career followed.
My first film would be the controversial “Valley of the Dolls” based on Jacqueline Susann’s novel. I was signed to play Anne Wells. On location in Connecticut I met the great photographer “Edward Steichen” who was visiting our cinematographer. His breathtaking and dramatic stylized photographs, his hauntingly beautiful landscapes have influenced me in capturing the mood of a subject.
After my second film for 20th Fox, Mephisto Waltz, I moved to London wanting to do period roles. Filming at Blenheim Palace in the beautiful English countryside the “Winston Churchill series”, I fell in love with everything English. I was photographed by Lord Lichfield for his book “Lichfield’s Beautiful Women”. He encouraged me to photograph outside the acting arena.
I then got my most exciting role “Anna Held” the French Victorian songbird of the Paris theatre in the TV movie “Zeigfield the Man and his Women”. I had always dreamed of dancing in film. As a child in Canada, dance was a part of my daily life which led to a glorious experience. At sixteen, I was chosen to join a ballet group to perform with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to Gershwins “Rhapsody in Blue.” All my years of dance was now highlighted in film. Dance, movement and soft focus have all entered into my style of photography.
I now concentrate only on my photography and am an advocate for endangered wildlife.
Featured Photos
Some of my favourite photos I’d like to share with you