Then and Now
When researching locations to photograph, I often start by looking at the past for inspiration. One my favorite source is vintage postcards. I remember when we used to send friends and family handwritten cards from the exotic locales we were visiting.
The Orchard Tree Inn
Postcard from the 1950s of the Orchard Tree Inn in Palm Springs
Built in 1934 and originally established as a tiny 10-bungalow complex known as the Sakarah Apartments, it became The Orchard Tree Inn in 1952, also when the pool was added. During its heyday, the Orchid Tree Inn played host to several Old Hollywood celebrities including William Holden, Troy Donahue, Tab Hunter, Anthony Perkins, and Rosalind Russell. It was shuttered in 2005 and has remained vacant since.
Built in 1934 and originally established as a tiny 10-bungalow complex known as the Sakarah Apartments, it became The Orchard Tree Inn in 1952, also when the pool was added. During its heyday, the Orchid Tree Inn played host to several Old Hollywood celebrities including William Holden, Troy Donahue, Tab Hunter, Anthony Perkins, and Rosalind Russell. It was shuttered in 2005 and has remained vacant since.
Photographed in May 2017 and part of my Empty Series
The Deauville Hoel
Postcard from the 50s/60s of the Deauville Hotel in Miami
Built in 1957, this hotel in the MiMo (Miami Modernist) architecture style featured a gigantic pool, a hair salon, radio station and ice skating rink. The hotel attracted a host of celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Joan Rivers and Jerry Lewis. President John F. Kennedy gave a speech here in 1961. But what really put the hotel on the map was the second 1964 Beatles performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” taped in the hotel’s Napoleon Ballroom. Sadly, after an electrical fire in 2017 it has been sitting abandoned.
Built in 1957, this iconic hotel, designed in the distinctive MiMo (Miami Modernist) architecture style, boasted an impressive array of luxurious amenities including a gigantic swimming pool, a fully equipped hair salon, a radio station, and even an ice skating rink. Over the years, it became a magnet for celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Joan Rivers, and Jerry Lewis, who were drawn to its unique charm and vibrant atmosphere. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy delivered a memorable speech within its walls, adding to the hotel's historical significance. However, what truly cemented its place in popular culture was the second Beatles performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964, which was famously taped in the hotel’s elegant Napoleon Ballroom. Unfortunately, after suffering severe damage from an electrical fire in 2017, the once-glamorous hotel has remained abandoned and neglected. Ultimately, in November 2022, this landmark was completely demolished, bringing an end to its storied existence.
Photographed in April 2019 and part of my Empty Series
The Raleigh Hotel
Postcard of the stunning art deco pool of the Raleigh Hotel in Miami
L. Murray Dixon designed the Raleigh Hotel in the Art Deco style. It first opened in 1940 and had multiple owners until it closed after extended damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017. This is an aerial image of the iconic pool featured in many movies. It was captured in April 2019. Today the hotel is awaiting to reopen after an extensive renovation.
This aerial photograph of the shuttered Raleigh Hotel Art Deco pool was inspired by the enduring elegance of Miami’s golden era of hospitality and the vision of architect Lawrence Murray Dixon, who designed the pool in 1940. The work draws from the timeless geometry and glamour of Art Deco, as well as the quiet resilience of a landmark that has weathered decades of change and, most recently, the force of Hurricane Irma.
Through this image, I hope viewers feel an appreciation for both history and survival—a sense of nostalgia for the mid-century heyday of Miami Beach and a quiet awe in seeing the pool preserved amidst the hotel’s ongoing restoration.
I chose aerial photography to honor the pool’s architectural precision and symmetry, best appreciated from above. The elevated perspective transforms the subject into a serene composition of curves and lines, where the interplay of shadow and color speaks to the elegance of Art Deco design.
Photographed in April 2019 and part of my Pool Series
TWA Terminal
Vintage advertisement for TWA, 1963
The futuristic design of the Trans World terminal in what is today’s New York JFK airport. Its design from Eero Saarinen was striking then, and remains today.
Photographed in July 2019 and part of my Black & White Series
Avakarel af Texaco Petrol Station, Skovshoved
Originally built as a prototype for texaco in 1936, skovshoved petrol station is now a class A listed historic monument and has been restored over the years since it was first opened in the 1930s
Photographed in December 2018
and part of my Black & White Series
Skiing in Switzerland
Verbier by © Slim Aarons
I have always been a fan of Slim Aarons work and especially his photographs in winter on the slopes of Switzerland or Colorado.
Grab a chair and a glass of champagne and mesmerize at the scenic beauty of the Swiss Alps in front of you while skiers whizz by.
Photographed in February 2023 and part of my Snow Series
Aspen
Postcard Aspen Chairlift, 1958
The image, which looks almost like a painting at first glance, depicts an old chairlift on Aspen Mountain. The surrounding landscape is breathtaking, with dense forests of pines and aspen trees and snow-covered peaks painting a picturesque backdrop. What makes the picture unique is the two chairs on the lift have stopped perfectly facing each other as if they were waiting for someone to occupy them and have a conversation. The mix of blue sky and clouds adds a cheerful touch to the otherwise muted colors of the scene. It's a mesmerizing image that captures the beauty of nature and the charm of the past in one frame.
Photographed in January 2023 and part of my Snow Series
Super St Bernard Ski Reosrt, 1975
The Super St Bernard ski resort borders with Italy and takes its name from the St Bernard pass. As a child, I would often go with my parents to ski or to ski camps when I did competition. Sadly, in 2010 the resort was closed, unable to secure the 25 million necessary to renovate its infrastructures. To this day, the structure is still standing.
This small ski resort with only two lifts went out of business in 2010. This structure housed the self-service restaurant and the departure station for the gondolas.