ca. 1935. "'Hard Rock' Randall" - portrait of unsmiling, stubble-faced individual, circa 1935. This is believed to be Virna Haffer's third husband, Norman Randall. He would be extensively photographed by Haffer in the 1930s and '40s. This portrait of Randall would win first prize in a San Francisco competition sponsored by Camera Craft magazine in 1936. (A Turbulent Lens: The Photographic Art of Virna Haffer, p. 60-61)
ca. 1929. "Gian Paola" - portrait of person with brightly lit face and clenched hand emerge from a sea of black. This circa 1929 photograph was exhibited at the 1928 Seattle Camera Club (SCC) show. According to the book, "A Turbulet Lens: The Photographic Art of Virna haffer," this unusual work had "intense and disturbing qualities" quite at odds with other exhibition entries that stressed beauty. (A Turbulet Lens:The Photographic Art of Virna Haffer, p. 92)
"Elizabeth Sale" - portrait of person with drawn castle in background, only head and hands are visible. Elizabeth ("Bettie") Sale was a poet who collaborated with Virna Haffer to produce a book incorporating her poetry along with photographic illlustrations by Haffer. "Abundant Wild Oats" was never published although a prototype was made. (A Turbulent Lens: The Photographic Art of Virna Haffer, p. 116-information on Bettie Sale and "Abundant Wild Oats.")
"Dude Cowboy, Pecos, New Mexico" - lower half of squatting cowboy - undated portrait. Man has studded boots, colorful long sleeved shirt and is holding a cigarette in one hand.
ca. 1934. "Dedication" - multiple exposures of nude man walking right to left across frame. According to the book "A Turbulent Lens," Haffer posed her husband, Norman Randall, in her studio with neutral backdrop and backlighting. A Graflex revolving magazine holder was used to take multiple exposures on several films and those resulting images were then sandwiched together. "Dedication" was used as the front and back inside covers for "Abundant Wild Oats," a book combining the poetry of Elizabeth ("Bettie") Sale and Haffer's photography. The book was never published although a prototype was made. (Virna Haffer Collection) (Bullock: A Turbulent Lens, p. 21, 126. 138, 117)
"Arrangement of Bamboo Leaves and New Shoots" - photogram. Photograms are created in a camera-less process using shadows that appear by placing objects between light-sensitive paper and a light source.