Light Table Archives - Page 2 of 4

Like Father Like Son and The Magic Garden

Isaiah Zagar voyeur — Voyeur. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2022

Like Father Like Son and The Magic Garden

During the summer of 1996 I produced my first couples test shoot for Penthouse Magazine. At the time I was looking around my neighborhood for a place to shoot and became intrigued by this place called The Magic Garden. It was founded by artisans Julia and Isaiah Zagar. We were friends from the neighborhood of Bella Vista where we raised our kids and enjoyed the artistic flavor of South street where the Zagar’s envisioned a dream of a creating an utopic art space that would attract visitors from around the world. Eventually their dream came true. Little by little over a period of years Isaiah, an artist and well known mosaic specialist worked on the creation of the space with assistants that he assigned to assist with various aspects of the project under his supervision.

One day, after having breakfast with Isaiah at the 4th Street Deli, he invited me over to see the progress he was making. I asked if I could take some erotic pictures of a couple that I had cast for an editorial for Penthouse Magazine. He jumped at the idea. Isaiah mentioned that although his father, Asher Zagar ( lived on the premises at the time) was a Playboy fan, surely wouldn’t mind witnessing the photo shoot that was to take place at his home by Playboy’s biggest competitor. The father and son were so intrigued by my work that they decided to join in on the production. I first photographed Isaiah and the couple with a my Hasselblad camera. I directed Isaiah while nude to descend down a flight of steps while acting like a voyeur. I don’t think he was acting.

Asher Zagar looks on while couple performs sex act — Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2022

In the second image, I switched over to my Nikon and photographed his dad casually seated on an outdoor terrace while reading a book with the couple making love next to him. This particular photograph was published in the book of Tableau Vivants, Editions Stemmle, Zurich 2001. To see more photos from the tableaux vivants series, click here: https://tonyward.com/portfolios/tableaux-vivants-1994-1996/

It is know wonder why these days the Philadelphia tourist bureau has listed The Magic Garden as a destination while traveling through the city of brotherly love.

To access additional articles by Tony Ward, click here: https://tonyward.com/studio-news-first-annual-friends-of-tony-ward-studio-luncheon/

The Vixens Series

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The Vixens Series

The new portrait series is called “Vixens.” I began the new work in the Spring of 2021 and is inspired by women from different walks of life that exemplify the title of the series. Each person that I cast is asked to write a story about their life in three parts: past, present and future as a prerequisite for engaging in the project. Each essay is published on my web sites along with pictures of each subject selected for the series. I’m casting women between the ages of 18 and 80 years of age and hope to complete the project by 2030 for exhibition and book publication.

To access additional articles by Tony Ward, link here: https://tonyward.com/tony-ward-diary-happy-hour/

Light Table: Frank Kelly Style Icon

I was looking through the archives recently and came across a photo of Frank Kelly, the man about town who defined mens fashion and style in Philadelphia during the 1970’s and 80’s. Frank was a style icon that I truly admired. Always dressed to the nines, tall, handsome and seemingly always in a good mood. He worked as a model between gigs in Philadelphia and New York and eventually became one of the most successful fashion salesman in Philadelphia, where his customers felt they could take advice from him on what to wear in a boardroom or casually on the street. He was incredibly charming and charismatic, qualities that defined his ability to sell to a wide range of customers. Frank worked at various boutiques and eventually finished his career at Burberry’s until his retirement. Frank passed away in 2018 at the age of 79.

For additional Light Table posts, click here: https://tonywardstudio.com/blog/light-table-portrait-of-the-day-2/

Picture of the Day: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas 1980

Caesars Palace Las Vegas 1980. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 1980

When I first started my professional career in 1980 as a staff photographer for the behemoth pharmaceutical company, Smithkline & French I was assigned to photograph executives for the company at a sales meeting held in Las Vegas, Nevada. I booked a hotel room at the casino in the over the top Liberace suite. For those readers who are unfamiliar with Liberace, he was a flamboyant pianist, singer and actor who performed regularly in Las Vegas and around the world until his death in 1987. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture of the suite, but I remember there was lots of red, and a giant mirror hanging on the ceiling over the master bed! This was quite the introduction to sin city.

After I got settled in, I loaded my camera with film to take a walk around the premises to take some pictures. As I entered an elevator to head down to the lobby, Roberto Duran was in the elevator. I noticed his large infamous “hands of stone” as he was also staying at the hotel for a fight against another great boxing champion, Sugar Ray Leonard. This was the type of place where people watching was also a sport, especially by the outdoor pool where guests enjoyed Pina Coladas while soaking in the blistering desert sun.

This was the casino that became famous not only for the prize fights that were held there, but it was also where a dare devil on a motorcycle by the name of Evil Knievel staged his dramatic leaps in the air over the outdoor fountains at an unimaginable distance. This picture was taken on a walkway leading guests from a parking lot to the main entrance.

To access additional photos from the early days of my career, click here: https://tonyward.com/early-work/

Diary: Theresa. A Visit to Alcatraz

Tony_Ward_Studio_early_work_1980_Theresa_Alcatraz — Theresa: A Visit to Alcatraz. 1980

Diary: Theresa. A Visit to Alcatraz. 1980

I first laid eyes on Theresa as she excited a cable car on a side street next to the Fairmount Hotel where I was staying in San Francisco on assignment in 1980. She walked directly towards me as I was standing on the sidewalk next to the hotel waiting for the concierge to have my car delivered from the garage on my way to a photo shoot. I said hello and she said hello back with a flirtatious smile. Low and behold she was an employee of the hotel as she motioned to open a side door I noticed for employees only . As she opened her purse to get her pass key, I commented that I was a guest at the hotel and mentioned how satisfied I was with the accommodations. She said she would pass the compliment on to management. We exchanged phone numbers. Later that day we met for drinks at Donatello, her favorite Italian restaurant just off of Union Square.

Theresa_Valdez_lunch_Hyatt_Hotel_Union_Square_San_Francisco_1980 — Theresa at Donatello. Union Square. San Francisco, 1980.

One thing quickly led to the next and so began a brief but romantic relationship. One of the highlights of our time together was a trip we took to Alcatraz Island where I captured this very beautiful moment with this Mexican beauty!

To access additional diary entries, click here:http://tonywardstudio.com/blog/diary-a-fashion-shoot-at-the-jersey-shore/