[Archive Tuesday] Slim Aarons

Last year I was given Poolside with Slim Aarons – a photo book that took me by surprise. Aarons, who was a famous American photographer at the age of 18, was enlisted in the US ARMY as a combat photographer earning a purple heart during WWII. After leaving the war, Aarons moved to California and in his words, started “photographing attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.”

Aarons said that combat had taught him that the only beach worth landing on was “decorated with beautiful, seminude girls tanning in a tranquil sun.” This book takes you back to a period where jet-setting was a new phenomenon and people were beginning to live the good life. I have to admit every time I pick up this book it makes me want to fly to Europe and spend my time sunning in a French villa.