discuss a helmut newton photo

paulbarden said:

95% of nude photographs are soft porn by design. Even on this forum, the majority of nudes by far are created to titillate, and eroticize the nude body. I'm much more interested in the other 5%.

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I agree, though I may not agree on which is which.

First, the crocodile pic is an outlier, not typical Helmut. Most of his pics were upmarket , of sophisticated women, sometimes nude in sophisticated surroundings.
He was controversial . IMO that makes him an easy target for woke warriors who have never attempted to try his style.

Alan Johnson said:

First, the crocodile pic is an outlier, not typical Helmut. Most of his pics were upmarket , of sophisticated women, sometimes nude in sophisticated surroundings.
He was controversial . IMO that makes him an easy target for woke warriors who have never attempted to try his style.

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Seems to me you are overdoing Newton same as any gallery director would. Woke Warriors? What is that? Newton shot mostly naked women, standing, spread legs, add some twists to this. I don't want to say he was not a capable photographer, artist, what have you. He chose a theme and became known for that and little else. If one digs deeper into his work he will find some gems. Naked women will always be Newton.

Looks like a gag postcard you'd buy in Florida. "Having a great time. Wish you were here"

Witold said:

Seems to me you are overdoing Newton same as any gallery director would. Woke Warriors? What is that? Newton shot mostly naked women, standing, spread legs, add some twists to this. I don't want to say he was not a capable photographer, artist, what have you. He chose a theme and became known for that and little else. If one digs deeper into his work he will find some gems. Naked women will always be Newton.

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How many Helmut Newton photos have you seen? Most of his work is fashion with clothed models. When he does shoot nudes, it is are often to make a statement (sometimes with dark wit) or in context with a clothed model or situation.

paulbarden said:

I'm much more interested in the other 5%.

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same here !!
that's why i mentioned TS cause his work is typically that 5%...

paulbarden said:

95% of nude photographs are soft porn by design. Even on this forum, the majority of nudes by far are created to titillate, and eroticize the nude body.

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exactly, you said it much better than me, thanks !
J

paulbarden said:

95% of nude photographs are soft porn by design. Even on this forum, the majority of nudes by far are created to titillate, and eroticize the nude body. <snip>

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I'm not sure that I agree with you on this. Specifically I mean your use of, "by design" and "are created to," although for sure there are many made with this intent. If you'd written "perceived" instead then I'd agree.

The photographer's intent is not always well executed, and the viewer brings a whole range of subjective 'baggage' with them too. Often I feel that both photographer and viewer are looking too much at the subject/model and too little at the photograph. It's the nature of the beast, I suppose.