The Marilyn Monroe Collection Metamorphosis Photo Contest: And the Winners Are...

I'm thrilled to announce today the winners of "The Marilyn Monroe Collection Metamorphosis Photo Contest." Many entries were received, via Facebook and my personal email account, and choosing the winners for me was very challenging.

For this contest, entrants were asked to submit their favorite photo (or photos) of Marilyn Monroe, and explain why the photo was a favorite. More specifically:

• Why is the photo meaningful to you?
  
• What message is it sending you?
  
• What story is it telling?
  
• How does it impact you?

When determining contest winners, I evaluated the image of Marilyn, along with the quality, depth and feelings expressed in the reasoning as to why the image was submitted by the entrant as a favorite.

All entries were incredible, and again, it was very hard to choose. I can tell people put a lot of hard work into this contest. Because of that, I'm actually giving away FOUR copies of Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis, instead of just three.

So, without further delay, the winners of "The Marilyn Monroe Collection Metamorphosis Photo Contest" are:

Leah from the United States:

"Marilyn was a supernova. 'Supernovae occur when a supergiant star collapses suddenly at the end of its life' To me in this picture, she is luminous and proud, a perfect form. The happiness she sought is radiating from this picture, if only for a moment."

Stacy from the United States:

"She looks as beautiful as cherries in the snow. She is exuberantly lovely. No one can match her power over the still lens. Dressed only in a simple red sweater she captivates the viewer with the power of her beauty. Yet...even now, her fate tip-toes in on cat's feet and we worry for her. She inspires us with her lovliness and still we find ourselves catching our breath in anticipation of her sorrows to come. She is gentle and tender, the inspiration for our best wishes, and she calls to us from that fair land, that she is finally safe and we should worry no more."

Ross from Australia:

"The Marilyn photo that means the most to me is the very first one I ever saw of her. It was back in 1953 when I was a 10 year old boy and I saw this photo in a magazine. I immediately cut it out and kept it (I still have it!!). I'm not sure now that I knew who she was but I was struck by her luminous beauty, and it was the start of a life long fascination with this lovely woman. Seeing this shot changed my life completely!"


Tony from Italy:

She had such a sweet way
To hide her embarrassment
When she talked and smiled Ironically
her eyes were closed/looked down for her misfortunes

When I see her hands
It catches me
To see them with such elegance
The friendly movements
I could barely hold back the urge
To grap her ... to take care for her ...
By a photo or movie clips
Or as here, seated during an interview

This never was reality for me
I was not even born at the time
Although compared to many other people
She was special… very special
..

Congratulations to all the winners. I'll be in touch to get your address so I can mail your book to you.

Thanks to everyone for participating in this contest. See below just a few of the exceptional photographs of Marilyn from Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis.

Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis - Win a Copy of the Book!

I'm excited to announce that HarperCollins Publishers have provided me with three copies of Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis, the new book by David Wills, which I am using as prizes for "The Marilyn Monroe Collection Metamorphosis Photo Contest."

This book is not yet available in the US, so here is your chance to win one of the very first copies! To learn more about Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphisis, and to see images from the book, visit www.ultimatemarilynbook.com.  You can also buy high quality images of Marilyn on this site.

Instructions for entering and participating in "The Marilyn Monroe Collection Metamorphosis Photo Contest"

1. Access the Marilyn Monroe Collection fan page on Facebook by clicking here.
2. If you're not already a fan, click the "Like" button at the top of the page.
3. Upload your favorite photographs of Marilyn to the MMC fan page, and share with me and with the world (in just a few words for each photo) why the image is a favorite of yours.  More specifically:  Why is the photo meaningful to you?  What message is it sending you?  What story is it telling?  How does it impact you?

Note: If you're not a Facebook user, simply email your favorite photos of Marilyn with your commens to me at scott@marilynmonroecollection.com.

Contest entries must be received by midnight (PST) on Friday, November 11.

Three entrants will be selected as winners of this contest, with an announcement being made on Sunday, November 13.   Note that photo contest entries will be evaluated on the explanation as to why the image submitted is one of your favorites.   

I just received the books in the mail today, and only one word can be used to describe this portfolio: Stunning! This large coffee table book offers 285+ pages of photographs, comments from notable individuals connected to Marilyn, and quotes from the legend herself. While the book is being touted as providing never-before-seen images of Marilyn, the die-hard Monroe aficionado will likely have seen most of the photographs of Marilyn contained in the book. However, even I came across several photos of Marilyn in Metamorphosis that I have never seen. Regardless of whether you've seen one or all of the photos of Marilyn in this book, I'll guarantee that what you've not seen are such high quality images of Monroe in any other photo book.

The coloring and definition of these portraits are indeed the finest I've come across in any other publication. The resolution, clarity and richness of photographs in Metamorphosis are unsurpassed. In addition, the overall feel and look of this book is quite high, from the heavy paper used to the gold-toned printing of the text. This book is a rare "must have" for every Marilyn Monroe fan and collector.

About Author/Collector David Wills and Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis:
There have been many Marilyn Monroe photo books—but nothing like this.
Curator and photographic preservationist David Wills has amassed one of the world’s largest independent archives of original Marilyn Monroe photographs. Now, in Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis, he has gathered spectacular, museum-quality work from Marilyn’s key photographers—Richard Avedon, George Barris, Cecil Beaton, Bernard of Hollywood, Andre de Dienes, Elliott Erwitt, Milton Greene, Philippe Halsman, Tom Kelley, Douglas Kirkland, Willy Rizzo, Sam Shaw, and many others—to create this dazzling portfolio of images from every period of Marilyn Monroe’s adult life, from her wedding day in 1942 till just weeks before her death two decades later. Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis pays homage to her continually evolving style and extraordinary beauty.