A Vision of Dead Desire is the title of a photograph by relatively little known photographer clarence john laughlin (1905-1985).laughlin was a self-taught photographer who spent most of his time around New Orleans, USA and was dubbed as 'Edgar Allan Poe with a camera'. He spent most of his life capturing haunting images of elegance and decadence by photographing weathered buildings, streets and cemeteries. [many THANKS TO KEVIN HALL FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION.]early titles of a vision of dead desire are 'dresden dance', 'brighton Hotel Rock' (see also brighton hotel rock and uk channel boredom.