Jack Cardiff's illustrious career began at the age of four as a child actor and continued as he progressed as a camera assistant and then cinematographer. He has worked with some of the world's greatest directors, including Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger on Black Narcissus, for which he was awarded an Academy Award in 1948, as well as stars including Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, Ingrid Bergman and Marilyn Monroe.

Bert Stern made his name as a fashion photographer for Vogue in the 1960s, and was the last photographer to be granted a sitting with Marilyn Monroe six weeks before her untimely death. This famous session is referred to as "The Last Sitting", the results of which can be seen in the book included in this lot.