I am extra grateful for the chance to reconnect with her work right before my novel goes out into the world. It’s the first time I’ve seen any of Lee’s photos in person since completing my novel, and it resonated with me deeply now that I’ve been immersed in her life and history for so many years. For me, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of seeing Lee’s work in real life, and this exhibit gave me actual chills. Scharer is able to portray Miller and Man Ray’s relationship in such a way that it almost makes the reader imagine it as a series of photographs.I was extremely fortunate to travel to Barcelona to see Lee Miller and Surrealism in Britain, an exhibition on view at the Fundacio Joan Miro. I felt that it may have been too focused on their sexual relationship rather than their careers as photographers but it definitely kept me interested and was written well. It was interesting to peruse some of their work after gaining some insight to their short but intense relationship. I enjoy when a historical fiction piques my interest in the subject enough for me to research about it after, which The Age of Light did. I admit I did not know much about Lee Miller or Man Ray prior to reading this novel. In WWII, being one of the first photographers to capture the horror of Dachau Later became known for her portraits of Pablo Picasso and as a war correspondent Ray and knew that her career as a photographer and her unique eye were more important She was determined to separate herself from Man She used her beauty to herĪdvantage and was not ashamed. She was not afraid to put herself out there. Eventually their love affair self destructs, but not before Lee has an extensive foundation in photography and ability to venture out on her own. Although Man is an eager teacher and mentor, he also takes credit for ideas that are Lee’s and, intentionally or not, is intent on reminding her that she is merely his assistant. Although they work very well together in the studio, their relationship becomes quickly blurred. Would be able to penetrate the photography world in Paris.įirst as his assistant and then as his lover and partner, Lee and Man Ray trademark a technique called “solarization” where they expose the developing picture to light at different times to create an image that looked like a photo’s negative. He also ran in a circle of well known artistsĪnd Lee knew that if she could convince him to hire her as his assistant, she At the time of their meet-cute, Man Ray hadĪlready made a name for himself as a leader of the Surrealist movement and was She meets Man Ray at a party one night and Lee, a reputable model, moves to Paris toįulfill her dream of becoming a photographer.

By Whitney Scharer is a historical fiction following the relationship betweenįamed photographers Lee Miller and Man Ray.

The age of light by whitney scharer