© 2011 Steve Marsel - Boston Hill Farm

With the simple yet vague assignment to “come up with a shoot” the wheels started turning and the creativity was let loose.  Steve taught me the three most important aspects of a successful photo shoot: 1) the outfit, 2) the concept and 3) the location.  Achieve all three and the shot is golden.  With that in mind, I set off to tackle part one, the outfit.  I had the great opportunity to attend Rhode Island School of Design’s (RISD) Senior Collection fashion show, and was blown away by the talent I saw.  I left that show with the extreme urge to drop everything I was doing and transfer to RISD, but my better judgment kicked in and I continued with the shoot.  I contacted the designers I enjoyed most, received several responses and chose one piece I particularly swooned over.  Linzi Kofsky, a senior at RISD, crafted a beautiful pair of chartreuse pants with such an elegant flow I couldn’t look away.  The top was simple and glistened with a closer look.  Part one, Outfit: complete.

Next, I thought about the concept.  I knew I wanted the outfit to be the strongest focus, and decided to find a way in which the slits in the pants would be reflected in its surrounding environment.  Steve and I picked our brains for locations and concepts with verticals stripes.  A yacht club with rows of tall sailboats, a loading dock with long shifting curtains, a forest with endless trees, or my favorite—a field with a zebra.  I called every zoo and petting zoo between Boston and Providence, but came up with the same response every time—“sorry it is not in our policy, a zebra’s kick is extremely powerful.”  I were Anna Wintour of Vogue, there was no chance I was getting that Zebra.  You win some and you lose some, and I learned this many times over in pursuit of the perfect concept.

Boston Photographer Steve Marsel working with talent Aileen Benson

With the Zebra out, we decided on the trees.  After days of stalking Google Earth, swearing at my droid’s navigation app and creeping through poison ivy on a stranger’s property—Steve found the perfect location.  We chose a marshland that had numerous tall, thin trees that looked dated and decrepit, it was beautiful.  However, creeping onto a stranger’s property and conducting a photo shoot is not considered normal or legal without the owner’s consent.  Luckily, Ben Farnum of Boston Hill Farm graciously agreed to let us use his property freely, and the location was finally determined.

Walking to the location at Boston Hill farm, North Andover, Massachusetts

With the three main ingredients stirred up, the final course was ready to be delivered.  But wait, there is more.  I personally did hours of research, sent out half a lifetime’s worth of e-mails and finally pulled together a team of makeup artists, hairstylists and most importantly—the model.  Gathering people together for a last minute shoot was challenging, but paid off in the end when every one showed up excited and ready to work.  You would think it is simple from here—make the model pretty, tell her she looks good and snap some pictures.  But other factors need to be taken into consideration, such as Mother Nature.  The shoot was scheduled for Thursday at four o’clock in the afternoon but come Thursday morning, the weather man was screaming bloody murder and the skies grew darker by the minute.  We had no other choice but to take our chances, so we prepped the model and hurried to our location.  It felt like a scene straight out of the Wizard of Oz, we were all Dorothy and the tornado was brewing.  Steve quickly set up the shot, we carefully hurried the model across a beaver dam to her spot and within a matter of minutes and eighty snaps of the camera, the rain drops started falling.  We ran back to the car and made it inside safely before the skies opened up and purple lightning shot across the sky.  Though our shoot was cut short, we luckily had a number of images to work with and proclaimed the shoot a success.  Being five minutes close to having nothing at all is a terrifying thought that I have chosen to push to the back of my mind.

Just before the rains came - shooting to get the best possible pose!

The final stages of the shoot were coming together and the only thing left was to chose the image and make it beautiful.  Steve used his contacts and found an amazing retoucher who turned this shot into something extraordinary.  With my jaw dropped open, I sat at the computer for at least ten minutes switching back and forth between the before and after images.  Don’t get me wrong, the image was awesome before, but I learned a great retoucher can make all the difference.

The beautiful calm before the storm.

The rambles tell it all—fashion is much more to the eye than a pretty face.  The number of details that go into one photo shoot is outstanding, but completely worth it.  This will not be the last photo shoot I produce for I am sure I have many more to come.  As Steve would say, “don’t be such a slave to fashion!”

Guest Blogger Stacey Lamb

Guest blogger Stacey Lamb is an undergraduate student in Communications and Studio Art at Florida State University. The next six months should prove to be quite an adventure for her—following her internship with Steve she will be backpacking Europe and studying abroad in London in the fall. Her passion for photography, fashion, travel and music strongly influence her adventures and life goals.  Read more of Stacey’s thoughts on her blog Slamb the Jam

Photography by Steve Marsel Retouching by Katja Bruijn – de Govorushchenko Original copy written by Stacey Lamb Hair styling & make-up by Aly Heifetz, Model – Aileen Benson. This image available for licensing at Steve Marsel Stock

Visit Steve Marsel’s other sites: Steve Marsel Studio, the assignment site and flagship site of the Steve Marsel brand, Steve Marsel Stock, the rights managed digital stock library of Steve Marsel Studio, Steve Marsel Galleries, the private gallery site of the Steve Marsel Studio. Visiot one of Boston Photographer Steve Marsel’s other blogs as well: Steve Marsel Studio Blog , the creative blog of the Steve Marsel Studio. Steve Marsel Galleries Blog, Steve Marsel’s blog that discusses the stories behind the photographs, and Steve Marsel Stock Blog, the blog of Steve Marsel’s rights managed digital stock photography library that discusses the stories behind the images on the stock site.

Merely a month ago, the term “Cinemagraphs” was coined and brought an entirely new type of game to the photo field.  Cinemagraphs are beautiful animated GIFs combining a still image, short video clip and technique to create photographs that appear to move in select areas of the frame. 

Boston Photographer Steve Marsel's Animated Gifs - Cinemagraphs

Originator, Jamie Beck says “we wanted to tell more of a story than a single frame photograph, but didn’t want the high maintenance aspect of a video…cinemagraphs were born out of a need to tell a story in a fast digital age.”  Much like the rest of the world that gawked at first site of these images, Steve and retoucher James Eves were impressed and immediately in pursuit of more.  The two paired up to create a series of .gifs that celebrate the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. The idea is simple—give people something they have never seen before, and show them that a photograph can tell a story in more ways than one.

Return to original animated gif “Cinemagraph” Post – “U.S. Veterans – A FewGood Women”

Guest Blogger Stacey Lamb

Guest blogger Stacey Lamb is an undergraduate student in Communications and Studio Art at Florida State University.  The next six months should prove to be quite an adventure for her—following her internship with Steve she will be backpacking Europe and studying abroad in London in the fall.  Her passion for photography, fashion, travel and music strongly influence her adventures and life goals.

Visit Steve Marsel’s other sites: Steve Marsel Studio, the assignment site and flagship site of the Steve Marsel brand, Steve Marsel Stock, the rights managed digital stock library of Steve Marsel Studio, Steve Marsel Galleries, the private gallery site of the Steve Marsel Studio. Visit one of Boston Photographer Steve Marsel’s other blogs as well: Steve Marsel Studio Blog , the creative blog of the Steve Marsel Studio. Steve Marsel Galleries Blog, Steve Marsel’s blog that discusses the stories behind the photographs, and Steve Marsel Stock Blog, the blog of Steve Marsel’s rights managed digital stock photography library that discusses the stories behind the images on the stock site. Cinemagraphs Cinemagraph

Sgt. Heidi Larson Hurley USMC

Sergeant Heidi Larson Hurley served in the Marine Corps for nine years.  “I decided to join during my senior year of high school while all my friends were being accepted to college,” she reflects.  “I still recall Parris Island like it was yesterday.” As graphic illustrator, she was part of a team that created training aids and presentations for briefings and events during the Saudi Conflict in 1991.  She went on to study at Mass ART and to work at Boston ad agency Hill Holiday.  Today she teaches art and design at Braintree High School outside of Boston.

Sgt. Heidi Larson Hurley USMC

The flag waving in Heidi’s classroom this Memorial Week is a reminder of – and a tribute to – all who have served their country and the cause of freedom.   “I belong to the Women Marines Association,” says Heidi.  “Some of the members are in their eighties and nineties now, among the first women who served in the USMC. I am honored to know them.”  Semper fidelis.

Want to know more about Steve Marsel’s animated Cinemagraphs? – Click here!

Guest Blogger Jack Brady

Guest Blogger John (“Jack”) Brady is a writer, editor, author and biographer.  He was editor-in-chief at Writer’s Digest and Boston magazine, and founding editor of The Artist’s Magazine.  His byline has appeared in New York magazine, New Times, Esquire, American Film, The Sunday New York Times, The Boston Globe Magazine and numerous other publications.   His interview with author Evan Connell appeared in the March 2011 issue of The Writer magazine. He has taught journalism at Boston University and has been visiting professional at the Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University and was Hearst Visiting Professor at the University of Missouri Journalism School.

 

Body painting, the application of paint/makeup to human skin, like many other fashions and forms of art, also experienced this reawakening. Except many people may not have realized this yet.

It can be debated that body painting is one of the oldest forms of art, often used in tribes as a form of rank or hierarchy. And over the centuries, the art-form evolved into different applications ranging from the traditional tribal, to go-go dancers, to Hollywood cinema, including such techniques as fantasy, camouflage, decoration, conceptualization, and tromp l’oeil.

In my opinion, body painting reached its undisputed highest glory in the 70s, when renowned fashion model/experimental artist, Veruschka (http://www.veruschka.net/), took her explorations to the most radical levels. She was essentially responsible for popularizing the camouflage technique, in which she would be painted, by herself and occasionally the photographer, to resemble the decaying environment, sometimes to the point where she seemed invisible.

Veruschka was also responsible for very conceptual photographic series’ where she would “remove” her painted clothing until nude, and then remove her skin to reveal the illusion of clothing underneath. Many of her techniques are still copied today, and those that knew of her then, still talk of her today, forty years later.

In the 90s, the art form was pioneered into the commercial industry by Joanne Gair (http://www.joannegair.com/). She is most notably recognized for her work with Annie Leibovitz and Demi Moore on the cover of a 1992 Vanity Fair (http://glamourphotography.co/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Demi-Moore-Vanity-Fair-cover-1992-BodyPaint-by-Joanne-Gair.jpg) in which a fully nude Moore was painted in a tromp l’oeil styled, faux suit and tie. That image was arguably the most influential image for countless body painters today, including myself. This also proved to be the main springboard for Gair’s career. She has since continued on to do numerous episodes of America’s Top Model(and other continental versions), is the head artist for the painted bikinis seen every year, since 1999, in the Sports Illustrated, and she is regularly involved with countless magazines, fashion campaigns, and TV/Film spots. Gair is perhaps the most prolific body painter to date.

The commercial popularity of body painting resulted in endless amounts of copycat styles, which consequently began to cheapen its reputation. In the 2000s, when people thought body paint, they pictured cheetahs or faux bikinis, quickly reducing it to cliche. As a result, many have written body painting off as a tacky pursuit.

Which brings me to my point… Before you consider the art-form an old fad, remember that like the revival of the Fedora and enormous Sunglasses, the body paint wave has hit again!

With the aid of online social networks, the next generation body painter has arrived, and the exploration continues. A whole new world has opened up as more and more traditional artists are getting involved in the medium of paint on skin. The talent level has become plentiful and diverse. Many artists, such as, Nelly Recchia (http://www.nellyrecchia.com/), Anastasia Durasova (http://www.adurasova.com/), Nick Herrera (http://www.facebook.com/TheBodyPainter), and Alex Hansen (http://www.alexhansenart.com/) have managed to consistently push the current limits, and discover new ways to apply techniques, textures, and concepts. And let me be the first to say, this may be its renaissance.

If you are one of those people that frown upon the idea of body paint, take a moment to look again. You may be pleasantly surprised. After all, it’s not like it’s the rebirth of the mullet.

Body Paint Artist Paul Roustan

Guest blogger Paul Roustan is a native of Chicago, IL, Roustan received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2002. After his move to Rhode Island, he completed a Master of Arts in Teaching degree at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2006.

Multi award winning and internationally published artist,
Paul Roustan’s work has appeared on Spike TV, the Chicago Sun-Times, Airbrush Action Magazine, among others. His work has been displayed in over a dozen galleries in the past year.

Roustan’s airbrushed bodypaintings have been used for corporate, private, television, and nightclub events worldwide, including clients Playboy, Bacardi, Tupperware, Absolut, and more. His work has also been featured in fashion shows, parades, photographic workshops, and magazines.

Visit Steve Marsel’s other sites: Steve Marsel Studio, the assignment site and flagship site of the Steve Marsel brand, Steve Marsel Stock, the rights managed digital stock library of Steve Marsel Studio, Steve Marsel Galleries, the private gallery site of the Steve Marsel Studio. Visit one of Boston Photographer Steve Marsel’s other blogs as well: Steve Marsel Studio Blog , the creative blog of the Steve Marsel Studio. Steve Marsel Galleries Blog, Steve Marsel’s blog that discusses the stories behind the photographs, and Steve Marsel Stock Blog, the blog of Steve Marsel’s rights managed digital stock photography library that discusses the stories behind the images on the stock site.  Special thanks to Retoucher James Eves Model featured in photograph above Akonwara.

"Back of the Bus" image © 2011 Steve Marsel ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

About the Bus:

The MBTA’s (Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority) RetroBus #2600 was built in 1957 by General Motors at their truck and coach plant in Pontiac, Michigan.  It is 35 feet long and 96 inches wide and is model TDH-4512 (for “T”ransit [sigmifying two doors, one for each entrance and exit, as opposed to "S"uburban with only one door], “D”iesel engine; “H”ydraulic transmission(as opposed to a manuel stick shift), “45″ seated passengers, “12″ is the model number – the even number “2″ signifying a 96″ wide bus.  All 102″ wide buses had odd model numbers).

Number 2600 was built for the City Bus Company of Oklahoma City, and assigned their number C605.  The Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company, one of the MBTA’s predecessors, purchased the bus secondhand in the early 1960′s. The eastern Mass was eager to retire the last gasoline buses in its fleet, and consequently acquired a large number of used diesel buses in this time period.  The bus was assigned the number 3183 by the Eastern Mass.  The MBTA acquired the Eastern Mass in 1968, and took possession of all of its property.0 including 3183.  In 1970, 3183 was part of a group of buses leased by the MBTA to Middlesex & Boston Street Railway Company (M&B), a private bus operator serving Newton, Waltham, Lexington, and other communities in the western suburbs of Boston.  In 1972, The M&B went out of business and the MBTA took over it’s routes, so 3183 returned to the MBTA. The bus was retired shortly thereafter by the MBTA, and sold to the Gateway Bus Lines of Wareham Mass.  The bus sat in storage at Gateway for many years.  In 1988, the bus was returned to the MBTA and completely rebuilt by volunteer labor by the men and women of Everett Shops.  The bus was assigned the number 2600, to represent all of the General Motors “old look” buses owned and operated by the MBTA and its predecessors in the period between 1940 and 1975. Number 2600 has been used for parades and other special occasions ever since.

Photography by Steve Marsel Retouching by James Eves Original copy written by Steve Marsel This image available for licensing at Steve Marsel Stock

Visit Steve Marsel’s other sites: Steve Marsel Studio, the assignment site and flagship site of the Steve Marsel brand, Steve Marsel Stock, the rights managed digital stock library of Steve Marsel Studio, Steve Marsel Galleries, the private gallery site of the Steve Marsel Studio. Visiot one of Boston Photographer Steve Marsel’s other blogs as well: Steve Marsel Studio Blog , the creative blog of the Steve Marsel Studio. Steve Marsel Galleries Blog, Steve Marsel’s blog that discusses the stories behind the photographs, and Steve Marsel Stock Blog, the blog of Steve Marsel’s rights managed digital stock photography library that discusses the stories behind the images on the stock site.

Photograph ©2011 Steve Marsel

Jim Buie

Guest blogger Jim Buie grew up in a small town in North Carolina during the turmoil of the civil rights era, which pricked his conscience about the social injustices he observed locally. He went on to a six-year career as a newspaperman, where he profiled Klansmen, met Martin Luther King Sr., Andrew Young, and Rosa Parks, among other “greats” of the civil rights movement.

More recently he served as a communications consultant to the North Carolina NAACP.  Mr. Buie is teaching English in central Turkey where he also writes articles for international publications.  His most recent book “Teacher of ‘Our Town’,” Jim explores his mother’s experiences as a teacher during the racial integration of her public school she taught at. He blogs about civil rights and current events at www.jimbuie.com.  Read more about civil rights on his blog .

Visit Steve Marsel’s other sites: Steve Marsel Studio, the assignment site and flagship site of the Steve Marsel brand, Steve Marsel Stock, the rights managed digital stock library of Steve Marsel Studio, Steve Marsel Galleries, the private gallery site of the Steve Marsel Studio. Visit one of Boston Photographer Steve Marsel’s other blogs as well: Steve Marsel Studio Blog , the creative blog of the Steve Marsel Studio. Steve Marsel Galleries Blog, Steve Marsel’s blog that discusses the stories behind the photographs, and Steve Marsel Stock Blog, the blog of Steve Marsel’s rights managed digital stock photography library that discusses the stories behind the images on the stock site.

This situation is not at all new. The problem has existed over endless years. For many years now Negroes in Montgomery and so many other areas have been inflicted with the paralysis of crippling fear on buses in our community. On so many occasions, Negroes have been intimidated and humiliated and oppressed because of the sheer fact that they were Negroes. I don’t have time this evening to go into the history of these numerous cases.But at least one stands before us now with glaring dimensions. Just the other day, just last Thursday to be exact, one of the finest citizens in Montgomery – not one of the finest Negro citizens but one of the finest citizens in Montgomery – was taken from a bus and carried to jail and arrested because she refused to get up to give her seat to a white person. Mrs. Rosa Parks is a fine person. And since it had to happen I’m happy it happened to a person like Mrs. Parks, for nobody can doubt the boundless outreach of her integrity. Nobody can doubt the height of her character, nobody can doubt the depth of her Christian commitment and devotion to the teachings of Jesus.And just because she refused to get up, she was arrested. You know my friends there comes a time when people get tired of being trampled over by the iron feet of oppression. There comes a time my friends when people get tired of being flung across the abyss of humiliation where they experience the bleakness of nagging despair. There comes a time when people get tired of being pushed out of the glittering sunlight of life’s July and left standing amidst the piercing chill of an Alpine November.

We are here, we are here this evening because we’re tired now. Now let us say that we are not here advocating violence. We have overcome that. I want it to be known throughout Montgomery and throughout this nation that we are Christian people. We believe in the Christian religion. We believe in the teachings of Jesus. The only weapon that we have in our hands this evening is the weapon of protest. And secondly, this is the glory of America, with all of its faults. This is the glory of our democracy. If we were incarcerated behind the iron curtains of a Communistic nation we couldn’t do this. If we were trapped in the dungeon of a totalitarian regime we couldn’t do this. But the great glory of American democracy is the right to protest for right.

My friends, don’t let anybody make us feel that we ought to be compared in our actions with the Ku Klux Klan or with the White Citizens’ Councils. There will be no crosses burned at any bus stops in Montgomery. There will be no white persons pulled out of their homes and taken out to some distant road and murdered.

There will be nobody among us who will stand up and defy the Constitution of this nation. We only assemble here because of our desire to see right exist.

My friends, I want it to be known that we’re going to work with grim and firm determination to gain justice on the buses in this city. And we are not wrong, we are not wrong in what we are doing. If we are wrong, then the Supreme Court of this Nation is wrong. If we are wrong, the Constitution of the United States is wrong. If we are wrong, God Almighty is wrong. If we are wrong, Jesus of Nazareth was merely a Utopian dreamer and never came down to earth. If we are wrong, justice is a lie. And we are determined here in Montgomery to work and fight until justice runs down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.

And as we stand and sit here this evening, and as we prepare ourselves for what lies ahead, let us go out with a grim and bold determination that we are going to stick together. We are going to work together. Right here in Montgomery when the history books are written in the future, somebody will have to say “There lived a race of people, black people, fleecy locks and black complexion, of people who had the moral courage to stand up for their rights.” And thereby they injected a new meaning into the veins of history and of civilization. And we’re gonna do that. God grant that we will do it before it’s too late.

Photograph ©2011 Steve Marsel

So what should we all meditate on this year to make it a good one? Rest. Peace. Tranquility. The year proports to be languid and leisurely with a carefree and slightly indulgent air. Time to play nice and spoil each other. Do I smell gourmet cupcakes? Just don’t take it too far–procrastination will also loom. Railroad your diet, and that emergency bootcamp class will surely harsh the mellow.

Good taste, art, and culture will receive a bit more emphasis in 2011, as will personal development and slow, steady growth. Perhaps the most charming quality of the lucky rabbit year is that love, romance, and family life are well-starred. You will suddenly realize what it all means to you–how very lucky you are to have what you have and be surrounded by such amazing people, too.

While strife will still surround us—it can’t magically vanish, after all—the Rabbit favors peaceful solutions to life’s problems and much needed diplomacy. Last year may have left you feeling that all is lost, but chillax, hope is very much alive.

So enjoy yourself, entertain your friends, and take it easy! While you’re at it, have a coconut water – you probably need the electrolytes.

Guest blogger Lisa Miller was born in the Year of the Rat or the Jack Russell Terrier—she can’t remember. She is living and writing in enjoyable relative obscurity at the end of a driveway and the edge of a river. In true Rat fashion, as long as she doesn’t have to work in an office, Lisa will write anything you want at any time for money–anything.

Additional thanks go to the very talented Stylist Donna Laviolette Model – Amanda Wilson, and Retouching by James Eves Photography by Steve Marsel

Visit Steve Marsel’s other sites: Steve Marsel Studio, the assignment site and flagship site of the Steve Marsel brand, Steve Marsel Stock, the rights managed digital stock library of Steve Marsel Studio, Steve Marsel Galleries, the private gallery site of the Steve Marsel Studio. Visit one of Boston Photographer Steve Marsel’s other blogs as well: Steve Marsel Studio Blog , the creative blog of the Steve Marsel Studio. Steve Marsel Galleries Blog, Steve Marsel’s blog that discusses the stories behind the photographs, and Steve Marsel Stock Blog, the blog of Steve Marsel’s rights managed digital stock photography library that discusses the stories behind the images on the stock site.

Every child deserves a great education. But across the country, schools are failing to educate low-income and minority students. At the Edward W. Brooke Charter School in Boston, our incredible teachers are actually closing the achievement gap. Brooke scholars: Ranked #1 in the state on both the 2010 7th grade Math Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and the 2010 7th grade English Language Arts MCAS Ranked #1 in the state on both the 2010 8th grade Math MCAS and the 2010 8th grade English Language Arts MCAS Ranked #1 in Boston on both the 2010 4th grade Math MCAS and the 2010 4th grade English Language Arts MCAS Consistently outperform students in wealthy suburbs like Wellesley, Lexington, and Brookline in both reading and math Attend top high schools and colleges, including Boston Latin, Phillips Andover, and U. Mass-Amherst Currently, there are more than 1,500 Boston Public School students on our wait list, most of whom lack access to high-quality education options. They need your support. As you make your end of year contributions, we hope you’ll consider investing in our school. Our operational costs are completely covered by public dollars, so 100 percent of your tax-deductible donation will be used to create more academic opportunities for Boston students, through expanding our school size, and through scholarships to competitive high schools that keep students on the path to college. We hope you’ll join us in supporting a better education for Boston students. If you’d like to learn more about our amazing teachers and scholars, please call us to set up a tour, or visit our website. Sincerely, Jon Clark Co-Director and Middle School Principal Kimberly Steadman Co-Director and Elementary School Principal

“Abraham” Photograph ©2010 Steve Marsel, Concept/Copy By Deb Siegel, Design by Paul
Huber,  Retouching by James Eves, HTML  Design by Lee Busch, Additional HTML coding
by Bill Langenberg

Visit Steve Marsel’s other sites: Steve Marsel Studio, the assignment site and flagship site of the Steve Marsel brand, Steve Marsel Stock, the rights managed digital stock library of Steve Marsel Studio, Steve Marsel Galleries, the private gallery site of the Steve Marsel Studio. Visit one of Boston Photographer Steve Marsel’s other blogs as well: Steve Marsel Studio Blog , the creative blog of the Steve Marsel Studio. Steve Marsel Galleries Blog, Steve Marsel’s blog that discusses the stories behind the photographs, and Steve Marsel Stock Blog, the blog of Steve Marsel’s rights managed digital stock photography library that discusses the stories behind the images on the stock site.

Photograph © Steve Marsel

After all, the most beloved ladies of the century were commoners at one point. Coco Chanel was an orphan, Lady Di was a commoner with a penchant for McDonalds, newby-Kate Middleton is the daughter of a flight attendant/ flight dispatcher marriage and Jackie O loved her denim bell bottoms. The facade of ease trumps Bergdorf Blondes every time.  Don your best frock ladies and head for the streets, diners and coin laundromat; you never know where you might meet your prince.

Elyse Lightner

Visit Steve Marsel’s other sites: Steve Marsel Studio, the assignment site and flagship site of the Steve Marsel brand, Steve Marsel Stock, the rights managed digital stock library of Steve Marsel Studio, Steve Marsel Galleries, the private gallery site of the Steve Marsel Studio. Visit one of Boston Photographer Steve Marsel’s other blogs as well: Steve Marsel Studio Blog , the creative blog of the Steve Marsel Studio. Steve Marsel Galleries Blog, Steve Marsel’s blog that discusses the stories behind the photographs, and Steve Marsel Stock Blog, the blog of Steve Marsel’s rights managed digital stock photography library that discusses the stories behind the images on the stock site.

Deranged Chic Photograph © Steve Marsel

What are we to think of a society that values {seemingly} fame and beauty over career achievement, responsibility, and family?  My leading ladies (Nicole Richie, LaLohan, Paris Hilton, and the comeback of the century… Britney Spears) were shipped off to jail, rehab, house arrest and mental institutions.  Of course, nobody of the contemporary generation feels that people these fabulous deserve to be on lock down of any sort.  They play their roles in the American Dream, walking the red carpet and entertaining the rest of us with their 4:00am photo shoots in cars with other celebutantes! Miley Cyrus is 18 this week…   Who else can’t wait to see what’s in store from the newest young thing??

C’est la vie..

Elyse Lightner

Guest blogger Elyse Lightner is a twenty something, candidate for a masters in art business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York City. Her internship with Steve, worldly  travels and obsession with museums have lead her to pursue a life surrounded by art and all things beautiful.

Additional thanks go to the very talented Stylist Alicia Barrett, Styling assistant – Elyse Lightner, Model – Ashley A., Hair By Darren Le,  Make-up by Elizabeth Moon, and Retouching by Emily Scalici. Photography by Steve Marsel

Visit Steve Marsel’s other sites: Steve Marsel Studio, the assignment site and flagship site of the Steve Marsel brand, Steve Marsel Stock, the rights managed digital stock library of Steve Marsel Studio, Steve Marsel Galleries, the private gallery site of the Steve Marsel Studio. Visit one of Boston Photographer Steve Marsel’s other blogs as well: Steve Marsel Studio Blog , the creative blog of the Steve Marsel Studio. Steve Marsel Galleries Blog, Steve Marsel’s blog that discusses the stories behind the photographs, and Steve Marsel Stock Blog, the blog of Steve Marsel’s rights managed digital stock photography library that discusses the stories behind the images on the stock site.