Melvin Sokolsky was born and raised in New York City where he started his distinguished career as a stills photographer. At the age of twenty-one he was invited to join the staff of Harper's Bazaar. Within the next few years he worked as a major contributor to four prestigious magazines: Esquire, McCall's Newsweek, and Show. His photographs of internationally famous personalities have appeared in many of the major museums and magazines worldwide.
He is best known for his editorial fashion photographs for publications such as Harper's Bazaar for which he produced, in 1963, the "Bubble" series of photographs depicting fashion models "floating" in giant clear plastic bubbles suspended in midair above the River Seine and other locals around Paris. “I’d have to credit Hieronymus Bosch for those images,” he notes, “if you look at his painting The Garden of Earthly Delights you will come across a nude couple in a bubble. That image stayed with me from childhood.”
Melvin Sokolsky was also influenced by Salvador Dali. Dali visited Sokolsky in his studio at one time. The surrealist influences are evident in his fashion shoot featuring models interacting with an over sized table and chair.
Sokolsky broadened his work beyond still photography to include shooting commercials and films and has won 25 Clios. Today he continues to shoot for magazines on assignment, most recently for Vibe, Bazaar and Vogue. He is a true visionary.
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Sokolsky directing model
This is one of Melvin Sokolsky's most copied images.
Twiggy
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A fascinating and educational video with Sokolsky speaking about his photographs and how he made them.
He is best known for his editorial fashion photographs for publications such as Harper's Bazaar for which he produced, in 1963, the "Bubble" series of photographs depicting fashion models "floating" in giant clear plastic bubbles suspended in midair above the River Seine and other locals around Paris. “I’d have to credit Hieronymus Bosch for those images,” he notes, “if you look at his painting The Garden of Earthly Delights you will come across a nude couple in a bubble. That image stayed with me from childhood.”
Melvin Sokolsky was also influenced by Salvador Dali. Dali visited Sokolsky in his studio at one time. The surrealist influences are evident in his fashion shoot featuring models interacting with an over sized table and chair.
Sokolsky broadened his work beyond still photography to include shooting commercials and films and has won 25 Clios. Today he continues to shoot for magazines on assignment, most recently for Vibe, Bazaar and Vogue. He is a true visionary.
Melvin Sokolsky's self portrait with model
Lena Horne New York 1963 ~ Melvin Sokolsky
A fascinating and educational video with Sokolsky speaking about his photographs and how he made them.
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