In 1953, John Vachon, then a photographer for LOOK magazine, snapped dozens of candid shots of Marilyn Monroe in the Canadian Rockies — only three were ever published. This beautiful hardcover collects those unseen photographs for the first time, capturing the sex symbol in intimate, unguarded moments: lounging poolside, riding a ski lift, and snuggling with Joe DiMaggio. Excerpts from handwritten letters by Vachon and insightful original essays. 102 duotone photos.
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31 of 34 people found the following review helpful
By Cheryl D.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Just when you thought you've seen it all... here comes "Marilyn August 1953: The Lost Look Photos" by John Vachon. This is a fabulous book! It is perfect for the Marilyn fan or for any lover of photography.
In August of 1953 documentary photographer John Vachon was given an assignment by Look magazine. The assignment would take him away from his family vacation and to Canada for two weeks. John was asked to take photos of Marilyn Monroe (what a hard job) for Look magazine. Marilyn at the time was at the top of her success. She had just completed Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and was engaged to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. She was in the Canadian Rockies to film, The River Of No Return.
Despite this John was not so sure he would find Marilyn an easy subject to photograph. Many movie stars of the time would be surrounded by their handlers making the photographer's job harder to do. Would he be able to capture a different side to Marilyn? The side that showed the "real Marilyn"?
I think you will find that the answer is yes! John took over 100 photos of Marilyn capturing her at her very best. The photos in this book are spectacular. They capture Marilyn in candid moments: snuggling with Joe Dimaggio and staged moments: Marilyn pouting in a two-piece bathing suit on crutches. These photos prove that Marilyn and the camera were best friends. She understood photography and how to take a great photo.
I have been a Marilyn fan/collector for over 20 years. I have only seen a few of the photos shown in this book. If you are looking for rare Marilyn "Marilyn August 1953: The Lost Look Photos" is it.
The book consists of only black & white photos- but, they are just lovely. The book is well made and a perfect coffee table size. The story behind the photographs is also very interesting and will give you a glimpse into Marilyn's life at the time.
In August of 1953 documentary photographer John Vachon was given an assignment by Look magazine. The assignment would take him away from his family vacation and to Canada for two weeks. John was asked to take photos of Marilyn Monroe (what a hard job) for Look magazine. Marilyn at the time was at the top of her success. She had just completed Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and was engaged to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. She was in the Canadian Rockies to film, The River Of No Return.
Despite this John was not so sure he would find Marilyn an easy subject to photograph. Many movie stars of the time would be surrounded by their handlers making the photographer's job harder to do. Would he be able to capture a different side to Marilyn? The side that showed the "real Marilyn"?
I think you will find that the answer is yes! John took over 100 photos of Marilyn capturing her at her very best. The photos in this book are spectacular. They capture Marilyn in candid moments: snuggling with Joe Dimaggio and staged moments: Marilyn pouting in a two-piece bathing suit on crutches. These photos prove that Marilyn and the camera were best friends. She understood photography and how to take a great photo.
I have been a Marilyn fan/collector for over 20 years. I have only seen a few of the photos shown in this book. If you are looking for rare Marilyn "Marilyn August 1953: The Lost Look Photos" is it.
The book consists of only black & white photos- but, they are just lovely. The book is well made and a perfect coffee table size. The story behind the photographs is also very interesting and will give you a glimpse into Marilyn's life at the time.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By makeupstar
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book is just beautiful, and a must for any true Monroe collector. I've been collecting Marilyn memorabilia for over 25 years and am still amazed to find and see photographs of possibly the world's most photographed woman. The photos in this book are simply stunning, and I would recommend it to anyone that loves Marilyn or Hollywood in it's Golden years!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By wellspring46
Format:Hardcover
The passing of Elizabeth Taylor prompted me to check out new books on her and her contemporaries. This one about Marilyn Monroe, from a new publisher called Calla Editions, is different than the typical fanbooks of photos. It has an interesting back story (as I read from a well-executed introduction by Brian Wallis of the International Center of Photography in New York): Marilyn was shooting a movie in Canada (River of No Return) and was injured on location with a sprained ankle. While she was recovering, a LOOK magazine photographer got rare access to her over a number of days. His pictures give a rare look at Marilyn in a more relaxed and natural state than most of what we've seen before. Sure, she was always posing when a lens was pointed at her. But here she's playful and smiling without her trademark sexual guile. What a treat for Marilyn lovers! The photographer himself, John Vachon, is an interesting case, in that he remains known primarily as an FSA photographer; Marilyn might have been his only celebrity glamour shoot.
Well printed black-and-white photos in a landscape format.
Well printed black-and-white photos in a landscape format.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Smile
Best Birthday present given to my friend, hopefully she will enjoy it . She is a big fan of her an this should blow her mind :)
Published 6 months ago by brian s walsh
2.0 out of 5 stars
Marilyn, August 1953: The Lost LOOK Photos
The book had very few pictures, although those shown were new to me. The book really offered no new written information on Marilyn.
Published 18 months ago by Judith A. Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
A new discover
This book was a discover. I found new amazing Marilyn's photos. I saw a shining look in her eyes ... with Joe Di Maggio. She was so really happy and in love!
Published on March 23, 2011 by Arianna Trento
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't Bother
With the exception of ten or so photographs that are exceptional, the rest of them may as well have stayed lost. Read more
Published on February 13, 2011 by Juanita R. Violini
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just An Okay Marilyn Book
When I saw this book at Barnes & Nobles I bought it because most of the picures in the book were never seen before. Read more
Published on January 23, 2011 by divifold
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marilyn August 1953-The Lost Look Photos
Outstanding pictures and captions. I was very please with the entire context of this book. I've been collecting Marilyn Monroe items sense 1952 and this is certainly one of the... Read more
Published on December 13, 2010 by Dennis Ellison
3.0 out of 5 stars
Marilyn, August 1953: The Lost LOOK Photos
I bought this as a gift for my wife and her feedback is: "Great to able to see the photos as I am such a big fan, but found the text throughout the book very repetitive. Read more
Published on November 5, 2010 by wikoli
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good pics, but average text
Amazon price for the book is $[...], and it's a nicely put together book; however, info in the introductory essay is repeated throughout the book. Read more
Published on October 21, 2010 by Bret R. Fuller
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