Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Kaufmann residence in 1935 for a family from Philadelphia. It is a marvelous place to visit. Located in a woodsy area in Mill Run, southwest Pennsylvania, it has recently undergone restoration. Read about it. See link below.
When we went there, there were many photographers. It is considered one of the most important works of American architecture. We learned that Wright designed all the furniture inside and he even wanted to design the clothes for the lady of the house. Wikipedia on Falling Water
July 1951. It wasn’t “cheesecake” if it appeared in U.S. Camera
By Paul Goldfinger, photography editor @Blogfinger. 2012 post.
Recently Charles Layton wrote an article for Blogfinger about an archaic term “cheesecake” as it refers to “girlie photos.” He posted a picture of Betty Grable in a bathing suit–an example of a World War II “pinup.” Of course, now we have tiny bikinis on display at beaches—more daring in some places than others, but basically very acceptable and admirable today. A photograph of a woman dressed in such attire would not be shocking today.
But what is the background of such photography and when did it become acceptable? And what about nude photography of women (and men) ? It is said that when photography was invented in England in the 19th century, many of the first images obtained were female nudes.
In 1951, when this U.S. Camera cover of a girl in a bikini was published, there was an ongoing debate going on regarding the nudes in Playboy.
However, in the fine art world, nudes had been acceptable in museums, galleries and publications such as U.S. Camera for many years, so the choice of this 1951 cover was mild by this magazine’s standards. In fact , this July 1951 edition of U.S. Camera contained a nude by Edward Weston.
From U.S. Camera, 1951.
U.S. Camera began publication in 1938, a time of great excitement in the field of photography. Edward Steichen was an advisor to the magazine, and nudes by the greatest photographers were shown in their pages back to the 1930’s. The publisher /editor of the magazine, Tom Maloney, was arguing for a more liberal attitude towards “figure photography.”
In 1952, one year after this issue of U.S. Camera was published, he produced an entire special edition of nudes by many of the great pioneers of art photography such as Edward Weston, Harry Callahan and others.
Harry Callahan’s wife Eleanor; his only nude model.
Tom Maloney could get away with that because he was an important figure in the world of fine art photography, but back then, you would never see a nude in your local newspaper, in Life Magazine, or at “the movies.” The venue was all important as to the acceptability of nude photographs.
The magazine ceased publication in 1969. The era of glossy photo-driven magazines such as Life and Look was over. But today you can go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and see an exhibit called, “Naked Before the Camera.” You can also turn on TV or a movie to see that “figure photography” is alive and well in our culture—just one advantage of living in a free society. (This article is a re-post)
KURT ELLING: Do you have 8 minutes for this tribute to the music of Coltrane and Hartman. It is a live performance called “Dedicated to You” by Kurt Elling who is a 51 year old jazz singer from Chicago.
Paul Goldfinger photograph. Captiva Island. Florida. Pirates once roamed here. Click on image to enlarge. Tri-X Collection.
“All the Things You Are.” Live with Ken Peplowski (clarinet) and Friends, honoring Benny Goodman (clarinetist and orchestra leader.). Jerome Kern wrote the music, and the words are by Oscar Hammerstein II.
Jazz musicians love this classic. Charlie Parker said that this song had his favorite lyrics. He used to call it “YATAG” which is an acronym for the lines “you are the angel glow” in the “B” part of the tune.
“You are the promised kiss of springtime That makes the lonely winter seem long. You are the breathless hush of evening That trembles on the brink of a lovely song. You are the angel glow that lights the star, The dearest things I know are what you are. Someday my happy arms will hold you, And someday I’ll know that moment divine When all the things you are, are mine.”
Witches in the Grove. Have any of them become Grovers? Paul Goldfinger obtains a candid shot among those magic shape-shifters on Heck Avenue.
17th century witch trials in Salem. But in OG we have good witches
In OG we have the most beautiful witches. Paul Goldfinger portrait. She brought her boyfriend, and she cast a spell on him, so he let her bite his neck. She also can say some sooth. She flew here on a broom, so she doesn’t need a parking permit.
Corner of Main Ave. right and Delaware. Ave. left All Blogfinger photos by Stephen Goldfinger. 10/1/26. Paul Goldfinger Editor, Blogfinger.net
Delaware Ave. to the right; Heck Ave left has garages. 2 car garage probably was allowed because of pre-existing garages. It’s a convenient space to locate a hearse or two.
Facing Delaware Ave. Turret faces Main Avenue. Side of garages to the left.
This garage side is facing Heck Avenue—Delaware Ave is to the right.
With Halloween approaching, can we call this construction “witchcraft?” After all, this site is only one block away from the annual Witches’ Coven on Heck where Blogfinger is the official photographer.
“The raids in Toms River, South Toms River and Berkeley took place in December, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Monmouth-Ocean High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.”
Since 2012, 700 people died of drug overdoes in Monmouth and Ocean Counties . Heroin from Mexico (mostly via the Sinaloa cartel) was involved in most of those deaths, often mixed with other drugs such as fentanyl. Most of the latter is synthesized in Mexico, but some of it is pharmaceutical grade originating in the US. Fentanyl is extremely toxic, even in tiny doses. It was originally developed as an anesthetic agent for medical use.
In 2016, 64,000 individuals died of drug overdoses in the US.
Most of the recent arrests (Dec, Jan and Feb) in Monmouth and Ocean Counties were of both men and women. Heroin, powdered cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and cash were recovered. These arrests will usually lead to stiff Federal charges. 2 of those arrested were found to be members of the Sinaloa cartel.
The DEA Monmouth/Ocean office was set up by the regional office in Newark last year in response to the unusually high rates of drug deaths at the Shore. It is unclear as to why the overdose deaths here have been higher than in most counties in NJ. Typically Ocean County ranks 3rd in the State, while Monmouth is 5th.
Years ago there were drug dealers active in Ocean Grove. Long time Grovers can relate some stories about that. Note that marijuana remains a problem, but the cartel and distribution connections for fatal, powerful drugs remain the main focus of the DEA who work alongside local and state police agencies, including Neptune Township and the State Police.
