Photographer Otto Stupakoff and his photos of Sharon & Bailey's photo of Roman and Sharon to go on sale

I found out that one of the people who photographed Sharon died this year in April.  His name was Otto Stupakoff and he photographed Sharon during rehearsals for the dance sequence in "The Fearless Vampire Killers" and did a session with her for Cosmopolitan magazine.

He photographed many stars of the 1960s and did fashion photography.  Among the many he photographed are: Paul Newman, Bette Davis, Grace Kelly, and Richard Nixon.  He died on April 22nd and had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease. 

There is a great article on his life and work here (and also some of his photographs):

http://www.fashionlines.com/2005/jul/arFineOtto.php

However, he apparently never wanted to talk about the actresses he photographed.  "Sophia Loren, Sharon Tate!  Just ask me about my personal life on these actresses!"  he declared sarcastically.  I have no idea why he mentioned those two actresses in particular?  Or why he wouldn't want to discuss them?  Unless something got lost in the article I translated that information from?  It just sounds like an odd statement doesn't it?

Although having said that many of his photographs (including many of stars including the one of Tate shown here with her dog) were exhibited in later years and he is quoted to have said this: "This exhibition was a gift! The greatest tribute to my work today! 40 meters with several pictures! Without false modesty, I think I deserve!"

Here is his photograph of Sharon that has appeared in many of the exhibits. It was taken in Santa Monica:

Here are a few from his session of Sharon during the dance rehearsal for "Fearless Vampire Killers".  I have one with Polanski somewhere but have not been able to find it. I will see if I can find it and post it here soon.

Let me know what you think of his photographs and quotes?

Here is another interesting short article on David Bailey's famous nude photograph of Roman Polanski and Sharon being auctioned soon:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/24/naked-roman-polanski-shar_n_369963.html

Naked Roman Polanski & Sharon Tate Picture Going To Auction (NSFW PHOTO)
   

Christie's auction house is auctioning off a David Bailey photo of Roman Polanski and then-wife Sharon Tate taken shortly before her murder.
 
Christie's estimates it will sell for between $8,000-$12,000 at the December 7 auction.

From Reuters:

"It's an important image," said Laura Paterson, a vice president at Christie's auction house and a specialist in their photography department.

"It certainly is provocative because of who the characters are. But it's also a touching naked shot of a happy couple," she added. "And Bailey does capture the anything goes flavor of that period."

Polanski is currently in a Swiss jail.