- Bob Shell
Robert Edward Lee "Bob" Shell is an American photographer and author who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the death of his model, Marion Franklin, in his
Radford, Virginia studio. The events surrounding his case have focused attention on photographers' professional conduct, and boundary issues with their models.Photographic career
Bob Shell trained in zoology and, after college, worked for the
Smithsonian Institution . He also studied fine art and worked as a natural history painter. His paintings and drawings were widely published and included wildlife conservation stamps for the National Wildlife Federation.Fact|date=June 2008 His father was an avid photographer and cinematographer and Bob followed in his footsteps, learning photography and film making at an early age. In the 1970s Shell decided to change careers and began to pursue photography and writing. He wrote his first articles for "Shutterbug" magazine in 1973 and continued his association with that magazine, later becoming its Editor, a position he held until 2003.Shell has written or co-authored more than two dozen books, primarily on photographic subjects, and more than 1,000 magazine articles for publications worldwide.Fact|date=June 2008 His work has been translated into German, French, Russian, Italian, Spanish and Japanese among others.Fact|date=June 2008 He worked for the
National Geographic Society as a Technical Photographic Consultant and did similar work for theEastman Kodak Company. His fine art photography has been exhibited in galleries worldwide and purchased for many collections.Fact|date=June 2008 His biography has appeared in "Who's Who in the World" since 1983, and also in "American Artists."Manslaughter conviction
Shell is known in the photographic community as a teacher of photography and for his nude photography. In 2003, his model (and, in his account, girlfriend [Chris Cheesman" [http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/Photographer_Bob_Shell_convicted_over_models_death_news_142922.html Photographer Bob Shell convicted over model's death] ", "Amateur Photographer,"
13 September 2007 .] ) Marion Franklin died of an apparent drug overdose after Shell found her unconscious on returning to his studio. He was prosecuted in connection with her death.After four years of delays punctuated by allegations of police and prosecutorialmisconduct, [ [http://www.vawd.uscourts.gov/OPINIONS/CONRAD/SHELLGRANTINGMOTIONTODISMISS.PDF Motion to dismiss] (PDF).] Radford City prosecutor Chris Rehak tried the two week casevague in front of a jury. In August 2007, Shell was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and seven other drug and attempted sex offenses. [Shawna Morrison, " [http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/130330 Jury convicts Shell, recommends 32 years] ] . He was sentenced to 32 years and six months. Shell was 60 at the time of sentencing and is appealing his convictions. [Chris Cheesman" [http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/Photographer_Bob_Shell_convicted_over_models_death_news_142922.html Photographer Bob Shell convicted over model's death] ", "Amateur Photographer,"
13 September 2007 ; Shawna Morrison, " [http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/137430 Bob Shell apologizes for photos, not death] ", "Roanoke Times,"October 27 2007 .]Books by Shell
Books by Shell include:
*"The Canon EOS System." Hove Systems Pro Guides. Hove, East Sussex: Hove Foto Books, 1990. ISBN 090644747X.
*"The Hasselblad System." Hove Systems Pro Guides. Hove Foto Books, 1991. ISBN 0906447771.
*"Mamiya Medium Format Systems." Hove Systems Pro Guides. Hove, East Sussex: Hove Foto Books, 1992. ISBN 0906447763.
*"Canon Compendium: Handbook of the Canon System." Hove, East Sussex: Hove Books, 1994. ISBN 1897802048.
*"Canon Classic Cameras." Magic Lantern, 1995. ISBN 188340326X.
*(With Victoria Jordan Stone). "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Massage Illustrated." Alpha, 2007. ISBN 1592575870.References
External links
* [http://www.bobshell.com/ Shell's site]
* [http://www.zen71560.zen.co.uk/photoweek/2007/10/who-was-marion-franklin.html Article profiling Shell's model, Marion Franklin]
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