A glass of wine or two with Sal mighta been quite an adventure...

 - Story courtesy of Photography Icons           

 

Philippe Halsman, Photographer - "Dalí Atomicus", 1948 

The scene was set up at Halsman's studio in New York City. To take the photograph, Halsman used a 4 x 5 twin-lens reflex camera that he had designed himself. The chair at the left was held up by an assistant. Both the painting Leda Atomica and the easel behind Dalí were suspended by wires. The step stool was supported by a prop

Real cats and real buckets of water were used. Halsman also had assistants help him throw the cats and the water. To coordinate the assistants, Halsman counted to four. On three, the assistants threw the cats and the water. On four, Dalí jumped

The coordination and timing was difficult to get right. For example, one take was ruined because Dalí jumped too late, another because the chair obstructed Dalí's face, and a third because someone else accidentally entered the frame. At least 26 takes were made before Halsman was satisfied with the final photograph. After every take, Halsman went into the darkroom to develop and print the film, while the assistants collected and dried the cats. The whole process lasted between five and six hours

Time magazine considers Dalí Atomicus one of the 100 most influential photographs ever taken. Time credits Halsman for transforming portrait photography, as prior to Halsman, there was generally a certain distance between the subject and the photographer. The New York Times called Dalí Atomicus "probably Halsman's most memorable single work"

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The original print is as you see it above in B&W. 

Just for giggles, I colorized it. Wuddya think?

 

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This is the most complete study of Dalí’s painted works ever published.