The best shots from the life of the rich and famous

When the famous American photographer Slim Aarons was offered to do a photo shoot of the landing of the American troops on the coast in Korea, he joked: "I'm only interested in those beaches where girls sunbathe." In fact, there was more truth than irony in these words – the war brought Slim a strong dislike for military photojournalism.

In the 50-70 years, Aarons became famous as a chronicler of the glamorous lifestyle of high society. We look at his amazing photos, full of brilliance and luxury.

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"To photograph attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places," Slim Aarons expressed his photographic credo while at the height of fame.

"Picnic in New York"

Slim Aarons (real name George Allen Aarons) was born and raised in the heart of New York, in Manhattan. He started his photography career at the age of 18 while serving in the army, and from the first days of the Second World War he worked as a military photojournalist. He was wounded several times, and received the Purple Heart Order for his valor. During the war in 1944, Aarons saved the life of his colleague — the famous photographer of the magazine "Life" Karl Midans. 

But, as mentioned above, the war brought him not only fame, but also a persistent dislike for military photojournalism.

Marilyn Monroe, 1952

"The Pool", 1955

After the war, Slim Aarons moved to California, where the heroes of his photographs became the most famous people on the planet — presidents and monarchs, movie and show business stars, popular writers and various representatives of high society.

Movie star Dolores Del Rio swims in the pool in Acapulco, 1952.

"Topless sunbathers by the pool"

Christmas of Rita Aarons, the photographer's wife. Hollywood, 1954.

Aarons ' works began to appear on the covers of the most popular glossy magazines, such as "Life", "Vogue", "Harper's Bazaar"," Holiday"," Travel and Leisure"," Town and Country".

Shooting of the Guinness family for the magazine "Holiday", 1963.

Aarons created immaculately elegant and absolutely cloudless images. In his photographs, he did not try to look into the inner world of the characters, did not invite the viewer to reflect on the vicissitudes of fate.

Miami, USA.

He completely and purposefully avoided even a hint of negative traits or emotions. His pictures simply shone with happiness and well-being of people who are confident in themselves and their future.

Soon, no important social party of American and European high society could do without Aarons-absolutely everyone was satisfied with his photos. "They always invited me to their parties, because they knew that my photos would not bring them trouble," Aarons said about working with stars in an interview.

Interestingly, Aarons considered himself a photojournalist: "I'm not a photographer, I'm a journalist with a camera," he said. And in a sense, this is true: he has never worked in a studio, has not resorted to the services of stylists and make-up artists, has not used artificial lighting, with rare exceptions, his characters do not pose. Indeed, it is not written anywhere that a photojournalist is obliged to take pictures of hungry children and cities destroyed by war — why shouldn't he take pictures of "attractive people in attractive places"?

1965, the brothers Freddie and Howard Cushing surf.

But still, the photos of Slim Aarons least resembled the work of a photojournalist — as one of the reviewers noted, it is sometimes difficult to believe that real "stars" were shot on his works, and not posing models.

"Tropical Mysticism", 1989

The year is 1985. Princess Bianca of Hanau-Schumburg in her chalet.

His "real world" of wealth, fame and prosperity is unreal — but, despite this, or maybe because of this, it is beautiful and attractive.

Swimming pool on the roof.

"The girl in the exotic". 1971, Jamaica.