December 20, 2013

STRIPED LIGHT NUDE

Martin H. Miller (1917-2005) worked as a Treasury Department official to revitalize the savings bond program during the post-war era. He also had an eye for topographical details and embarked on a personal quest to correct errors in government maps- a mission that included updating CIA maps to reflect the outcome of the 1967 Six-Day-War in the Middle East. He told a reporter at the time that he presented his case in a "factual rather than ideological" manner. "If I were trying to peddle my views, I wouldn't have gotten very far." [Washington Post]. Miller's crusade for accuracy even extended to the Encyclopedia Britannica.


In addition to his Treasury and editorial work, Miller also pursued a passion for Photography. From what little I can find on-line, it appears that he was an award-winning photographer who taught a course at the Agricultural Department graduate school and was active as a lecturer and competition judge. He joined the Photographic Society of America in 1953, and was among the top 50 most-exhibited amateur black-and-white photographers in the world by the 1960s. He is remembered for his exquisite nude images, especially the "Striped Light Nude" series. These images have such a wonderful Op Art quality, with shadows defining contour and surface in an almost topographical manner. To my eyes, the series shares the erotic language of Maurice Binder's James Bond title sequences. Live Auctioneers covered the sale of his estate, which included a number of prints. A current eBay auction for a Miller original appeared on our radar, thanks to Batman designer Shane Glines (Spy Vibe interview here). Examples from the "Striped Light Nude" series below from Live Auctioneers and eBay. Enjoy!






Recent Spy Vibe posts: Dylan at NewportJane and SergeThe Goldfinger VariationsMod Tales InterviewPete Seeger nominated for Grammy,Kraftwerk returns to US, Beatles BBC on Fresh Air, Steranko S.H.I.E.L.D. Artist Editions, David Tennant's Ian Fleming audio books, Atomic ArtModern Architecture LPJulius Shulman, Shane Glines Batman, The Prisoner and Captain ScarletDiego Fortunato and Verner Panton, Saturday Morning CartoonsAssassination Bureau on DVD, new Young Bond series, new Hercule Poirot novel, Early Beatles image archive, Julie NewmarErno GoldfingerHitchcock tribute.

Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Erno Goldfinger, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel CowardWhispering Jack SmithHawaiian GuitarJoe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming CatalogJon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive