Legendary Helmut Newton (1920-2004) is widely recognised as a pioneer who shook fashion photography to its core, transforming its customary poised sceneries into a highly risqué world, complete with provocatively seductive poses that reflected the sexual revolution of the era. He was a "prolific, widely imitated fashion photographer whose provocative & erotically charged black-and-white photos were a mainstay of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and even Playboy. His voyeuristic unique look captured the innate underlying beauty, humour, sensuality and even violence of the world of fashion, wealth and power.
Born in Berlin in 1920 to a wealthy Jewish family, Helmut Newton was a delicate child prone to fainting. When he was around 8 years old his brother began showing him the 'gutter' of Berlin, a red light district which was inhabited by prostitutes like the 'Red Erna', who wore thigh length boots and carried a whip. Helmut remembers, "my eyes were poppin' out of my head."
At 12 he saved his money to purchase his first camera at a "five-and-dime". A few years later he decided to travel abroad and become a famous photo reporter. "In 1936 I arranged to have myself thrown out of school as a hopeless pupil," says Helmut. With the help of his mother, Helmut began working as an apprentice for Else Simon, a female fashion-and-portrait photographer.
His father's prophetic response to the chosen path was, "My boy, you'll end up in the gutter."
Crocodile Eating Ballerina, from the Pina Bausch Ballet'Keushleitslegende', Wuppertal, 1983
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