Synmag Magazines

Silky, Surprise Edition
Synmag Publications
New York, New York
ca. 1962

digital replica

We could say that incidental prose in Silky is silly. But let's turn it around and characterize the tone as cheerful, lighthearted, brimming with praise and admiration. Most pictorials expose a single model in alluring poses.

Zoftig babes present themselves with flirty smiles, fishnet tights, and, sometimes, panties. Photos also show topless beauties in lacy undies, RHT nylons, and garter belts. Pumps and mules with three-inch heels complete many costumes.

Pretty posers include Gerry Calvo, Lois Brown, Barbara Baeno, Fil Corey, and Candy Ford. Tee Tee Red appears on two promotional pages.

This issue offers guidance about modeling and photography. An article by Marylee Baxter advises What To Do With a Model's Arms.

Many times a photographer wishes to feature a model's arms in a shot, and other times it will be quite the opposite, when he wants to minimize them. Arms have a way of being a big problem to a lensman and models at times because they, if held wrong, interfere with the grace and litheness of the body, and are apt to clutter up a study, detracting from your goal.

Much of the action in your pictures can be done with the arms. The props vou utilize should depend upon the model's use of arms and hands. An important last movement before shutter snapping time can bring a picture out of the commonplace and into the charmed circle of "greats."

On full length poses you'll find you have the greatest arm freedom of all, because vou can take advantage of her movements best. This is especially true of good outdoor action shots. But it's the semi-closeup studies that seem to give many people the most trouble. In these poses the arms are drawn into the close confines of the composition. Also, with closeups (I wish to mention) arms do not always have to show. They can be left out completely or only small portions can be shown.

A good idea is to feature the arms only when the assignment calls for them, or some particular action in which they are doing something.

The novice model usually asks the same question — "What will I do with my arms?" The experienced
girl always knows. Professional models are somewhat like dancers. They have a natural ability to be graceful. Dancers rely upon their arms and legs for motion and drama — so do good models.

A model can leam to use her arms better by forgetting she has them. Stop being conscious of them, I generally tell my new girls. Also, the usage of good props will take her down other channels and she'll have something to do with her hands and arms. Give her all the props she wants. If you are at the beach, look for driftwood or seaweed for her to hold or give her a beach ball. If you are in the country, there are plenty of trees to hold, lean against. In the city there are parking meters, autos, a million props.

But if you cannot use props in a picture simply give her something to lean against, let her fold her arms, a good way to bring out the bustline, incidentally. Or let her put them behind her head, on her hips, etc. . . .

Page style reflects an interest in modern graphics, with asymmetry, a mix of picture sizes, and many regions of black. Except for covers, all pages are monochrome. While some page margins and borders have been reduced, the ambitious graphic style is obvious in the ebook.

The ebook contains all content of the 52-page magazine. Page sequence was revised to obtain continuity of one of the articles.

Some photographs appear vertically in the original. For viewing convenience and other reasons, a few page layouts were revised and pictures rotated.

Brightness, contrast and levels were adjusted and shadows reduced. Most photos transposed to ebook format with clarity and show smooth gradients when enlarged in the Sumatra PDF viewer.

All new scans.

One ebook, delivered by download from your 30th Street Graphics account.