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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Forty-Five: Using clouds to imply meaning > Forever Marilyn, Palm Springs, California, 2013
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10-JAN-2013

Forever Marilyn, Palm Springs, California, 2013

The dreamy exuberance of Seward Johnson’s massive sculpture of Marilyn Monroe, one of the 20th century’s most iconic actresses, is expressed by the pose she assumed in one of the most famous studio publicity shots of all time. That photo of Monroe standing on a subway grate, her dress is lifted by the rush of a passing train, was made to promote “The Seven Year Itch.” The sculpture, known as “Forever Marilyn” is on loan to Palm Springs. It will loom over the city's central intersection until June, 2013. In this photograph, I placed the top half of the sculpture between two clouds floating overhead. The larger cloud to her right seems both beautiful and vulnerable, almost to the point of fragility. Monroe bends forwards and ecstatically squints her eyes. She does not see this tear-shaped cloud drifting above her, but we do. If one knows the sad story of Monroe’s short and troubled life, that cloud could well serve as its exclamation point.

FujiFilm X10
1/300s f/2.5 at 7.9mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time10-Jan-2013 18:12:16
MakeFujiFilm
ModelX10
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length7.9 mm
Exposure Time1/303 sec
Aperturef/2.5
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Mode
JPEG Quality
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

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