Saturday, April 17, 2010

In the Beginning

New York 1984

It was all due to Rosanna Arquette. When they were discussing who to bring in to do publicity shots for Desperately Seeking Susan, it was Rosanna Arquette who recommended Herb Ritts. She said that she could feel the gravitational pull between Madonna and Herb on their first meeting. Herb did side shots of Madonna that day. This is where this shot is from and we all know where they went from here.

At 17 years old, I was invited in 1988 (and took Betty!), to the Herb Ritts Pictures book release party at the Ebel Theater on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles and Herb had a slide show and spoke of each photo that appeared in his book. When this image came up he said, Madonna arrived with cigar box full of her jewelry and just gave herself over to the camera.

8 comments:

  1. One of Madonna's most "Roman/statuesque" photos ever taken. I absolutely LOVE this picture.

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  2. I remember it well! It was fantastic!

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  3. Oh such a delicious post!!! It gives me goose pumps! STUNNING IMAGE and great history behind it! Hope your having a great weekend!!! Where do you live? CITY?

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  4. fantastic, so far! los angeles. you?

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  5. I can't remember where i read an interview of Herb Ritts about this first shoot where he said that they were there to shoot Rosanna Arquette and he was so mesmerized by Madonna that he wanted to shoot her too so he asked his assistant to provide some stuff to dress her up but all he had left were a pair of Men boxers so they ended up putting it on her head and she arranged it with jewelry. So apparently this is what she wears on her head on this pic :) ( i think it's in his book now that i recall it)

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  6. the fascist state of toronto!!!! xoxoox

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  7. I loved Toronto when I visited. Lovely.

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