Slim Aarons: Photographer to the Famous

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Kaylan Putman

Mrs. Schlenker

Photography 1

2 April 2012

Slim Aarons: Photographer to the Famous

            Slim Aarons was a photographer for the elite society in Hollywood in the 1940’s-60s.  His real name was Georges Allen Aarons and he was born in New York City, New York in the year 1916.  In the year 1935, when he was 18 years old, he enlisted into the American Army. While being a soldier, he became the official photographer for the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. He was the wartime combat photographer. He then became a reporter during World War 2.  He was wounded during the war, received an award for bravery, and he lost his twin brother.  After World War 2, he moved to California where he started photographing celebrities. In the year 1951, he married Lorita Dewart, an employee at Life Magazine. Slim Aarons traveled the world to capture pictures of the rich and famous. He died in 2006 in Montrose, New York at the age of 89.

            Slim Aarons was a photographer for only the rich and famous celebrities. He called this type of photography “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.” This was his mantra.  In California, he began to photograph celebrities in luxurious areas, such as pools or their homes.  Most of his pictures are of women in swimsuits, relaxing by the pool. These celebrities include Marilyn Monroe and Jimmy Stewart.  He always captured the celebrities in

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comfortable environments for them, such as their own houses, and usually in their own clothes.  He received a purple heart for his bravery in the war and had his photographs in many exhibitions, such as The Good Life at the Yancey Richardson Gallery in New York, NY and Pool Party at the Yossi Milo Gallery in New York, NY.  He has written 4 books:  Poolside with Slim Aarons, Once Upon a Time, A Place in the Sun, and An Intimate Portrait of the Good Life. 

            All of his models were famous celebrities.  The first picture, called Fan Mail, was of Marilyn Monroe, an actress, sitting upon barrels of fan mail sent to her after her movie Asphalt Jungle. The second picture is called Sundowners.  It showed two women in bikinis, drinking wine in 1958 and it is supposed to show the glamorous life of Hollywood people. The third picture is called Poolside Gossip.  It shows many friends relaxing by the pool, having a drink, and just enjoying life.  Its meaning is to show that you can still have fun on a lazy, foggy day.  The fourth picture is called The Kings of Hollywood.  It shows Clark Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper, and Jimmy Stewart cracking jokes on New Year’s Eve.  The glittery background and their tuxedos give off the impression that they are on top of the world.  The last picture is of a star in Mexico named Dolores Del Rio.  It is taken in Mexico, showing his type of photography where he captures the picture in their environment.

            The picture, The Kings of Hollywood, captures Clark Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper, and Jimmy Stewart having a good time.  It is on New Year’s Eve, and the picture is one of complete happiness.  The four men, who were very famous movie stars in this time, were captured unexpectedly while cracking jokes, laughing, and drinking.  The background is decorated with other beautiful, rich, and famous people talking under glittery lights.  The shining

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background, beautiful people, and nice clothing make many people believe that they are royalty.  The look of relaxation and happiness on everyone’s face shows the type of photographer Slim Aarons was; one who would always capture the pictures of celebrities at ease and would make sure they were all comfortable around him.  A person could easily see how comfortable around Slim Aarons these four very famous men were by their smiling faces, their relaxed stances, and their comfortable composure.

            Slim Aaron’s style of photography of only taking pictures of attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places changed the minds of people everywhere. No longer did people believe that capturing the rich and famous celebrities were only for paparazzi, but also for the artistic out there who loved the glamour of Hollywood. Slim Aaron’s softly lit photography that are kind of faded, pictures that are slightly tinted, and how he shoots all of the famous celebrities in comfortable areas for them, inspires people everywhere to go out and do the same because it shows that they do not need a fancy camera or a sophisticated area.  Aaron's background of growing up not in Hollywood, but in New York and starting out only taking pictures of World War 2 shows any person that they can capture a picture of anything they choose, not only with what they grew up with. 

1. Fan Mail

2. Sundowners

3. Poolside Gossip

                                                                                                                          

4. The Kings of Hollywood

       

5.  Dolores Del Rio

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