Tuesday 9 May 2023

Miss November


Back in 1972 Swedish model Lena Forsén couldn't possibly have foreseen that when she got the gig to pose topless for Playboy magazine in 1972 (she was their Miss November centrespread) her, cropped, image (above) would be used worldwide for decades as industry standard for most photo image processing algorithms - what we know today as jpegs; many years later she was credited with being the first Lady of the Internet.


I heard the fascinating story this afternoon on 99% Invisible the wonderful radio show/podcast hosted by Roman Mars - now in its 14th year approaching and with well over 500 episodes in the can. Lena's story, as with most features on the show, is fascinating. Click on the above link to find out more and here the episode in full (it's on the 'Shirley Cards' ep. - another fascinating photographic story I wasn't previously aware of). In the meantime, here's the uncropped photograph taken by Dwight Hooker as it would have appeared at the time (minus the staples).



10 comments:

  1. Porn was a lot classier back in those days.

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    1. I hear what you're saying, but I'd say this is more burlesque. Topless (and, yes, bottomless), but porn? I'm not really sure.

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  2. I never knew that about the industry standard. And, ah, she's so natural - if only that was the 'industry standard' in other terms now too...

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    1. She was stunning, that's for sure. I was reading up on the photographer (Dwight Hooker - who was also an Architect) and it turns out he also photographed Playboy's first (and I think only) topless twin sisters. The seventies, eh?

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  3. Replies
    1. Thanks, Adam. I will, however, ensure everyone puts their clothes on for my next missive.

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    2. Weekly nudity post maybe?

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    3. I have a reputation to think of, you know. Oh, go on then!

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  4. Presumably not a future photo challenge, though...

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    1. Now you're just being silly! Having said that, if you have any ideas for future photo themes then I'm all ears. I'd like to think of 'Are We There Yet' as an artistic cooperative. (God, did I really say that? One for 'Pseud's Corner'.)

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