[.ca] Marilyn Monroe: The Complete Last Sitting (ISBN 3888141915)

stunning...:
This collection of photographs from Marilyn's last official sitting is haunting and extraordinary. The pictures show so many different sides of her, and I think that Stern did a fabulous job capturing them with the clothes, scarves, and props he provided. His introduction is interesting and gives the reader an idea of what it would be like to work with Marilyn in that way; however, he seems to fall under the Marilyn love spell, like every other man who encountered her, and becomes maudlin imagining a romantic encounter. I have to add that seeing the damage that Marilyn did to the negatives she didn't like gave me goosebumps; it is chilling to know that she thought so little of herself, especially so close to death.

not the way i want to remember her:
This is a shoot taken from the end of her life. unfortunately as a result she looks somewhat of a decrepit, almost like she is an older looking woman than the glittering bombshell of seven year itch and niagara. some nice shots though and a good book for those who like to ogle people of advanced years.

Wonderful:
Wonderful book, Amazing pictures! I highly recommend, even though it has a hefty price tag it is well worth it.. this is a HUGE book. With pretty much every page filled with high-quality photographs that are just gorgeous. Marilyn Monroe was a true beauty. She was a classic, and so is this book.

Shocked:
After reading the initial commentary by the photographer, I was shocked, and angry, at his statement about his fantasy was to photograph Monroe and hopefully have (...)with her during the sessions. During the sessions, champagne was served Monroe during the long sessions and the last session Monroe went as far as passing out- nude in a bed. At this point, the photographer took the opportunity to kiss her (which she rejected) and later touched her nude body as she lay semi-conscious on the bed. Being a photographer (non professional), I was shocked at the ethics of the shoots. While the photographs are interesting, in my opinion some give the apprearance of the intoxicated state of Monroe during the sessions. Some of the photographs are not as high quality as I would expect. I enjoy the photographs just for the collectors value and most are interesting. I have mixed feelings, though, when a see the tragic ending of Monroe's life and her clearly vulnerable emotional state at that time. I couldn't help feel angry that a photographer would exploit that state with photo sessions filled with selfish (...)desires and alcohol.

A Visual Loveletter:
MARILYN MONROE: THE COMPLETE LAST SITTING is a beautiful book about a beautiful woman. Let's face it, men of a "certain age," even when they themselves now are half-dead, still get excited at the very thought of Marilyn. Ms. Monroe exemplified America's concepts both of beauty, and of sex appeal, in the middle of the 20th Century. As a result, THE COMPLETE LAST SITTING makes a unique and most appreciated gift for this any member of this population. Photographer Bert Stern has used his camera to write Marilyn a visual love letter. Many of his shots of her are touching depictions of the woman whom she was in her heart, as opposed to the manufactured creature of "movie star" into which the entertainment industry had turned her.