Helmut Newton

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In reply to a critic's statement above, I see absolutely none of myself in Newton's work.
I see only Newton in his work, which ultimately is sad because, I suspect, that is what he saw, too ....
 
White women is his first major book, from 1975, where he showed his mature style, adding a mix of elements apparently contradictory to erotism, a most unusual mix then. A true classic.

Cheers,

Juan
 
I did like the work he did for the Faye Dunaway film "Eyes of Laura Mars" due to the way it fit into the plot. The few books of his nudes I've seen didn't appeal to me enough to buy one though.
 
Helmut Newton is brilliant at exploiting women into becoming nothing more than a sexual object to fulfill some mens lust! I say "some men" because we don't all see beauty in the same way. He plasticizes & cheapens women IMO into looking like some kind of a living sex toy. Their faces, esp. the eyes, speak of death! I think someone mentioned gothic! I put Helmut Newton in the same class as Robert Mapplethorpe, Both are/were masters of transferring their own hidden & deep sexual desires & perversions & bring them out in a photograph! I'm not being critical here, I find the subject fascinating, & some of you guys know my religious beliefs & I promise to keep them out, but from a moral/immoral aspect, What fascinates or does not fascinate you about this type of photography? For me it's simply like I stated above, The women look fake & it strips away their natural beauty. I find some of the photos of the women in the gallery here much more appealing to my eyes because they show a much more natural beauty. & I might add that I'm not referring to the nudes, because as I remember, Helmut Newtons women are always clothed, only very provocatively!
 
gb hill said:
Helmut Newtons women are always clothed, only very provocatively!
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Not sure if I would categorise just a pair of high heels as 'clothed' but I agree with you about his subjects being seen as dehumanised sex objects. However, I considerably prefer Mapplethorpe to Newton, possibly because he seems more involved with his subjects.
 
I like Mapplethorpe too, both technically and aesthetically... He seems to defend freedom, and Newton seems to defend dignity...

Cheers,

Juan
 
I think it's important to make a distinction how much the intent of fashion photography differs from Arbus or Adams or whoever. It's not supposed to be true, it's supposed to be fashion.
 
gb hill said:
Helmut Newton is brilliant at exploiting women into becoming nothing more than a sexual object to fulfill some mens lust! I say "some men" because we don't all see beauty in the same way. He plasticizes & cheapens women IMO into looking like some kind of a living sex toy. Their faces, esp. the eyes, speak of death! I think someone mentioned gothic! I put Helmut Newton in the same class as Robert Mapplethorpe, Both are/were masters of transferring their own hidden & deep sexual desires & perversions & bring them out in a photograph! I'm not being critical here, I find the subject fascinating, & some of you guys know my religious beliefs & I promise to keep them out, but from a moral/immoral aspect, What fascinates or does not fascinate you about this type of photography? For me it's simply like I stated above, The women look fake & it strips away their natural beauty. I find some of the photos of the women in the gallery here much more appealing to my eyes because they show a much more natural beauty. & I might add that I'm not referring to the nudes, because as I remember, Helmut Newtons women are always clothed, only very provocatively!
Click to expand...

newton is pretty cerebral, as far as pervs go. the women don't look fake or stripped of their natural beauty to me. can you point to some examples? rather, they look supremely powerful and vital, even though death is just around the corner. the women have a statuesque, commanding presence. confidence is attractive, so all of them are beautiful, even if they're older than...what, 25? i think the fact that his settings and subjects are urban and/or wealthy is throwing you off about "natural beauty". this is not domai, for sure.

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dignity (respectability is a better word) is a joke in helmut newton's world. why bother when you have all that money? :D

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