Kaylan's Photo Blog
Monday, May 21, 2012
Aspects of Photography
Speaking from my experiences, the most important aspect of photography is creativity. Without at least a little bit of imagination, it is harder to take photographs because you do not know what to capture. Photography is capable of showing actual glimpses of real life, like realism, but with a more real touch to it. To take a good photograph, someone must first think about what they want to capture in their photograph and the meaning of it, because then it gives a more personal touch and feel to it and shows a more creative side.
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.
Brighton, Crane K. "Slim Aarons :: Biography of Contemporary
Photographer at Crane Kalman Brighton." Crane Kalman Brighton. Web. 04
Apr. 2012. <http://www.cranekalmanbrighton.com/photographers/slim-aarons/biography.html>.
De Metz, Alexandre, and Paul-Antoine Briat.
"Slim Aarons." Slim
Aarons : Photos and Biography of Slim
Aarons , Buy Slim Aarons Photos. Web. 04 Apr. 2012. <http://en.yellowkorner.com/artistes/201/Slim-Aarons.aspx>.
Edwards, Owen. "Smithsonian.com." Smithsonian Magazine. Jan.
2006. Web. 04 Apr. 2012. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/indelible-jan06.html>.
Hopkinson, Amanda. "Slim Aarons." The Guardian. Guardian News and
Media, 16 July 2006. Web. 04 Apr.
2012. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/jul/17/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries>.
Market, Geregelter. "Slim Aarons  (American,
1916-2006) ." Slim
Aarons on Artnet. Web. 05 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.artnet.com/artists/slim-aarons/>.
Patrick, Jon. "SLIM AARONS | THE STILL UNDISPUTED KING OF HOLLYWOODÂ PHOTOGRAPHY." The Selvedge Yard. Feb.-Mar.
2009. Web. 04 Apr. 2012.
<http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2009/02/14/slim-aarons-the-king-of- hollywood-photography/>.
Wright, Jennifer. "Retro Snap: Slim Aarons." TheGloss. Apr.-May 2011. Web.
04 Apr. 2012. <http://thegloss.com/beauty/retro-snap-slim-aarons-2/>.
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