r.i.p. bert stern

self-portrait with marilyn monroe, the last sitting, 1962

sue lyon as lolita for look magazine, 1960

twiggy

jane birkin & serge gainsbourg,  ca. 1970

elizabeth taylor as cleopatra, 1962

cary grant as charlie chaplin for life magazine, december 1963

jean shrimpton for vogue, 1965

iconic photographer bert stern died wednesday at the age of 83.  known for his intimate & raw portraits of marilyn monroe, stern was a pioneer of advertising photography as well as photographing fashion & celebrity. in 1959 stern told a panel of commercial artists that "i like to put my feelings into my photographs." a statement that was considered provocative in its day.  a legendary photographer.

the story-tellers, part 45

johnny depp & kate moss

jane birkin & serge gainsbourg

anita pallenberg & keith richardson

arthur miller & marilyn monroe

humphrey bogart & lauren bacall

mick jagger & marianne faithgull

kris kristofferson & rita coolidge

johnny cash & june carter

clyde barrow & bonnie parker

bob dylan & suze rotolo

richard burton & elizabeth taylor 

alabama in true romance:
amid the chaos of that day, when all i could hear was the thunder of gunshots, and all i could smell was the violence in the air, i look back and am amazed that my thoughts were so clear and true, that three words went through my mind endlessly, repeating themselves like a broken record: you're so cool, you're so cool, you're so cool.

& the original....

serge gainsbourg & jane birkin photographed by francis giacobetti for lui, dec 1974.