Melvin Sokolsky, a photographer who pushed boundaries by creating fantastical tableaus that seemed to defy gravity and logic, died on August 29, at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 88.

His career in fashion photography imbued cool couture style with high-art surrealism. Later, he moved on to directing and shooting television commercials, collecting more than 25 Clio Awards. Many of his images were later shown in galleries and museums, including the Louvre in Paris, the MOMA in New York, and the Getty in Los Angeles.