Photo Journal Assignment #6

Marilyn Monroe with Skirt Blowing

Sam Shaw, 1955

In the iconic image, her white skirt swirls up like a matadors cape as she fights reluctantly, it
seems to wrestle it back down. The photograph of Marilyn Monroe, taken at 51st Street and
Lexington Avenue in New York as promotion for The Seven Year Itch, is one of the most
reproduced shots of the 20th century and then some.

(CONTINUE READING at http://withoutautofocus.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/the-legendary-lensman-
behind-marilyn-monroes-most-famous-photo-is-celebrated-in-a-new-book-the-first-retrospective-of-
a-near-forgotten-career/)

Answer the following questions:
1. Give brief bio of Marilyn Monroe? Why was she an important figure in the 1950s?
2. Discuss what you think about this image as a portrait. Does it represent her well? Does it tell
a story about her? Find out where and why this photo was taken.
3. How do the Elements, Principles and Composition help to make this portrait interesting?
4. Take a portrait (of anyone, or yourself) paying close attention to what the person is wearing.
Use their clothing/costume in the composition to make the portrait unique.
5. Write an explanation for your image
6. Please do NOT make this cheesy: cheesy; informal:cheap, unpleasant, or blatantly inauthentic.


Photo Journal Assignment #6



Evaluation

Not yet meeting
expectation
Minimally meeting
expectations
Meeting
expectations
Exceeding
expectation
Context Does not convey a
story or personal
response through
images


through
writing/responses
Minimally conveys a
story or personal
response through
images


through
writing/responses
Conveys a story or
personal response
through images



through
writing/responses
Conveys a unique
and complex story
or personal
response through
images

through
writing/responses
Elements &
Principles of
Design


Does not respond
to E&P use of self
and others


Does not include
E&P in images




Rules of
composition are
not followed

Busy/irrelevant
background,
unfocused,
centered focal
point)
Minimally responds
to E&P use of self
and others


E&P is visible but are
not a strongly
represented in
images


Rules of composition
are sometimes
followed.

Some images have a
busy/irrelevant
background,
unfocused, centered
focal point
Responds well to
E&P use of self and
others


E&P are strongly
represented in
images in a visually
pleasing way.


Rules of
composition are
followed

Images are
focused,
background is
relevant, focal
point placed in an
interesting way
Responds with
complex
observations to
E&P use self others

E&P are strongly
represented in
visually pleasing
way. Images are
unique.

Rules of
composition are
followed

Use of composition
to create
interesting/unique
visual effects in the
image