And The Leak Goes On

All things considered, the Steven Klein image of Madonna used as the cover of Hard Candy was remarkably faithful to its original incarnation—touch-ups were minor (the vein in one arm, some colors). I would say this image looks hot as it is. Perhaps Madonna selected it because so many of the others looked like they'd require so much work, whereas this one was almost ready to go as well as being exciting formally.

Remember Madonna's equestrian phase? Here are two unretouched images from that pre-Confessions Tour shoot that also look just about as lovely prior to the PhotoShopping:

You'll remember the version we saw as a W Magazine cover:

An older-looking but still beautiful icon chooses tails over heads:

They're not Klein and they're mostly not even Madonna, but a slew of professional-looking or at least access-unchallenged images from behind the scenes of Sticky & Sweet (round one, if you count the usually correct Madonnatribe as having confirmed that round two will occur this summer) have also hit the 'Net. Fun times:

More of these after the jump...

Comments

[Mark]

What is the deal with Madonna????? Is there nothing else going on in the world? I usually enjoy this blog, but lately the photos of the surgically retrofitted high priestess of self-absorption have been coming way too thick and fast. Could we change the record?

[Matthew Rettenmund]

Sorry, Mark—there are always many other things happening in the world, most of them more important. But when Madonna is happening, my attention goes there for at least the length of one post. My blog is about "men, Madonna, mouthing off and me," so just sit tight and once the Madonna leaks drip dry I'm hoping you'll like the next wave of non-Madonna stuff. Hang in there.

[Trub]

I like taking the original photo and holding it up to the album cover. Her right breast was reshaped and that bit of skin near her right breast, from the obviously too tight bra, has been airbrushed away. And her poor fingers are rapped so tight with that boxing bandage they look like they are moments from amputation.

All of that aside, I think the original photo, with the original background looks many times better than what they brushed her into for the cover of Hard Candy.

[david]

who would of thought the "queen of reinvention" would have to resort to reinventing her face?

the un-retouched photos from the equestrian shoot are STUNNING. she looks like a gorgeous, older woman.

i pray she lets herself start to age naturally.

[daryl d]

Okay, I'm still deciding why she used that awful picture for the album cover. The album cover and the music have nothing in common. I still do like the album, even if it's not her best. Was she playing a joke on Warner Brothers or something with that album cover? Does she have ANYBODY who tells her, "You know what M, not a good idea there?" I'll say this again: her critics are incredibly ageist and sexist. It's too bad that she plays into their trap rather than going against it.

[Ventura70]

I have said it a thousand times, the original cover was AWESOME! Needless to say, i hate the end product. I really wish ppl wld stop bitchin about her plastic surgery. The woman lives off her image and i think what shes done so far suites her well, she hasnt gone all Cher or Michael Jackson on us, so quit ur whining and enjoy the fact that shes still out there doing her thing!!! If he were to be looking like she was back in 2002 before any botox or face lift, u guys would be whining how tired and old she looks and would be beggin her to get soMe wrk done! Cuz she was looking rather ROUGH!

[Justin]

I LOVE the unretouched pictures of Madonna that have been flooding in lately!

Keep 'em coming!!! :-)

[coffee]

wow, seriously, Madonna's still got the stuff