in may 1983, corman, then 29, had just finished a two-year apprenticeship with photographer richard avedon. corman's mother, cis corman, was working as a casting director on the martin scorsese film "the last temptation of christ". madonna, then 24, auditioned for the role of the mary magdalene, and although she did not get the part, corman's mother suggested that he photographer her. soon after, corman took candid photographs of madonna in and around her apartment in manhattan's lower east side. this was prior to the release of her first album. in the photos, madonna is dressed in a street fashion of ripped denim, lace and layered jewelry, with a bare midriff. over the course of 1983, corman had six shoots with madonna.