Jeanloup Sieff

It has been said that versatility is not always such a great thing in that it implies, "jack of all trades; master of none". The contradiction to that statement is nowhere more evident than that of Jeanloup Sieff's work. He worked for the Magnum Agency and was known as a photographer of fashion, portraits, dance, nudes, landscapes, reportage, erotica, and of course, derrieres, for which he devoted an entire book. He was a master of all these realms. Click here to see his official website.

Erotica Meets Fashion

Did Helmut Newton do it first?  (See my posts on Helmut Newton by clicking on his name in the left column of this page or type his name into the search box.  Additionally, I recommend reading this excellent Voguepedia bio.)  So, was Newton the first to incorporate fetishism and bondage into his fashion photographs?  I'm not sure.  But, here we see it is alive and well.  Here are two shots of Alexander McQueen's work shot by Steven Meisel.

Helmut Newton Polaroids

Last year, Taschen released a book of Helmut Newton Polaroids. As did many photographers, Newton used Polaroids to test a shot before shooting actual film. His widow, photographer June Newton (a/k/a Alice Springs) edited the book.

I fondly remember using the Polaroid 110A and 110B converted with Polaroid backs for test shots ... and then the dinky 600 just for fun ... and then the Spectra with which I must have taken hundreds upon hundreds of shots, none of which were test Polaroids, but instead just for the thrill of instant gratification and spontaneity. And, we used the Spectra for casting calls. Then, of course, there was the folding SX-70 Land Camera that produced images which were a medium unto itself. (Remember image and emulsion transfers?) I also have the Highlander roll film camera -- it was a camera my father used. I digress! The story of Polaroid could continue, but this post is about Helmut Newton's test Polaroids, of which he kept a significant collection.

Here is a sampling from the Helmut Newton book:

Nancy Davidson

It was Nancy Davidson's inflatable sculptures that first caught my eye.  I instantly became an admirer, what with her ability to combine eroticism, whimsy, playfulness, and fine art all into one magnificent signature. Take this and apply it to photography and here again, her provocative work inspires. To see more of her work, click here.

Photography:





Sculpture: