David Hamilton : Twenty Five Years of an Artist

Rating:
Summary: A quarter-century of incredible work.
Review: A year ago, I had never heard of David Hamilton. Then I saw his book, "A Place In The Sun", in a Maryland bookstore. I fell in love immediately with his soft-focus style, not to mention his subjects, which include seascapes, mountains, and beautiful girls. This book, now in its second printing, is a retrospective ranging from the years 1967-92. The one difference here as opposed to "A Place In The Sun" is that there are more black and white pictures, which apparently Mr. Hamilton is very fond of. It is unfortunate that people here in America, as well as Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have such a problem with his photographing nude girls, because this book proves that those pictures are part of a much bigger picture. This book has got to be one of the finest collections of art available anywhere, and it would be wise for anyone interested in this style of photography to buy this book now, because it will sell out very quickly....the first edition's 55,000 copies sold out in less than a year from its 1992 publication. Also, this would make a good companion to "A World Of Beauty", Mr. Hamilton's next (and apparently last) book. Get this book now. The picture entitled "County Cork, Ireland 1971" on page 152 is worth the price of the book alone. And speaking of prices, this book is being offered at one that I would consider dirt-cheap, for a photography book that is over 300 pages. Anyone who passes this up will later regret it. This is a desert island must-have. Congratulations to Mr. Hamilton on twenty-five (actually now thirty) years of success, and many thanks to Amazon for offering this book.

Rating:
Summary: A quarter-century of incredible work.
Review: A year ago, I had never heard of David Hamilton. Then I saw his book, "A Place In The Sun", in a Maryland bookstore. I fell in love immediately with his soft-focus style, not to mention his subjects, which include seascapes, mountains, and beautiful girls. This book, now in its second printing, is a retrospective ranging from the years 1967-92. The one difference here as opposed to "A Place In The Sun" is that there are more black and white pictures, which apparently Mr. Hamilton is very fond of. It is unfortunate that people here in America, as well as Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have such a problem with his photographing nude girls, because this book proves that those pictures are part of a much bigger picture. This book has got to be one of the finest collections of art available anywhere, and it would be wise for anyone interested in this style of photography to buy this book now, because it will sell out very quickly....the first edition's 55,000 copies sold out in less than a year from its 1992 publication. Also, this would make a good companion to "A World Of Beauty", Mr. Hamilton's next (and apparently last) book. Get this book now. The picture entitled "County Cork, Ireland 1971" on page 152 is worth the price of the book alone. And speaking of prices, this book is being offered at one that I would consider dirt-cheap, for a photography book that is over 300 pages. Anyone who passes this up will later regret it. This is a desert island must-have. Congratulations to Mr. Hamilton on twenty-five (actually now thirty) years of success, and many thanks to Amazon for offering this book.

Rating:
Summary: A master of what he does.
Review: After hearing about the controversy over David Hamilton's subject matter, I decided to purchase this book. I was a little nervous about owning this, not desiring to be a 'felon' or incurring the wrath of Big (overbearing) Brother.

When I opened the cover and turned the pages, my nervousness changed into respect. I find it ludicrous that such a book could in any way be considered "pornographic", let alone be considered to contain child pornography.

As an artist, I believe Mr. Hamilton has captured what he perceives to be the beauty in this world. He certainly shares it with a passion evidenced through his work. Whether it is the young nudes, stills, or landscapes, Mr. Hamilton presents his passions in a positive, tasteful manner. I am starting to believe that those who find fault with his art work need to re-evaluate their position. That is my, entitled, opinion, as those who find fault are entitled to theirs.

Thanks to Amazon.com for offering such a wonderful work of art, akin, in my mind, to the work of Ansel Adams, at an extremely attractive price. I will purchase other titles by David Hamilton. If you like photographic art, I would highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Exquisite
Review: After hearing about the controversy over David Hamilton's subject matter, I decided to purchase this book. I was a little nervous about owning this, not desiring to be a 'felon' or incurring the wrath of Big (overbearing) Brother.

When I opened the cover and turned the pages, my nervousness changed into respect. I find it ludicrous that such a book could in any way be considered "pornographic", let alone be considered to contain child pornography.

As an artist, I believe Mr. Hamilton has captured what he perceives to be the beauty in this world. He certainly shares it with a passion evidenced through his work. Whether it is the young nudes, stills, or landscapes, Mr. Hamilton presents his passions in a positive, tasteful manner. I am starting to believe that those who find fault with his art work need to re-evaluate their position. That is my, entitled, opinion, as those who find fault are entitled to theirs.

Thanks to Amazon.com for offering such a wonderful work of art, akin, in my mind, to the work of Ansel Adams, at an extremely attractive price. I will purchase other titles by David Hamilton. If you like photographic art, I would highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: As usual...superb Hamilton!
Review: As a good amateur photographer myself, I can only envy David Hamilton and his technique. I have 5 or 6 of his books to date and there's not a bad shot in any of them. The soft, dreamy quality of his prints suggest peace, tranquility, and ease of mind and spirit in his subjects. Are there pornographic photos in Hamilton's books. No. Might some people "see" pornography? Unfortunately, probably so in those portions of the world influenced by 17th Century Puritan thought and manner of looking out at the world. Is there superb artistry? Absolutely! I would love to have a photo shoot with David Hamilton!

Rating:
Summary: NO NO NO
Review: I agree with another reviewer that said it isn't right to take young girls and pose them in unnatural and erotic positions so that we may "say" that we want to enjoy their "beauty." I didn't see one photo (albeit I didn't search through the whole book) of naked boys posed in such a way. If youthful nudity is so beautiful, why aren't both sexes recognized? I suspect that this artist isn't interested in male "beauty." I felt that these girls were all exploited by the artist (and every person that buys this book).

(...)

Rating:
Summary: Very talented artist, but did this one cross the legal line?
Review: I bought the book, "The Age of Innocence", and was impressed with his work, although, it's subject matter made it something to put in the bookcase, rather than on the coffee table. That book, though certainly controversial, was without arguement within the US law. Though there are many "fanatics" whom might rant and rave otherwise, "The Age of Innocence" contains NO child pornography, as defined by the law. It instead is a beautiful, gentle, visual record of the physical beauty of young girls on the verge of womanhood. I then bought his next release, "A Place in the Sun", and was even more impressed! Whereas "The Age of Innocence" focused entirely on nudes, "A Place in the Sun" focuses on beauty of nature in the tropics... The land, sea, plants, animals, and girls that exist there. "A Place in the Sun" IS a breathtaking coffee table book, and, in my opinion, establishes Mr. Hamilton as perhaps THE most talented artistic photographer in the world.

This new release, "25 years of an Artist". however, may have crossed the legal line, and certainly has damaged the image of "innocent artistic work" his supporters have argued so strongly to establish as fact. The photographic work is absolutely fantastic. There are some of his best nudes in this book. But, several pictures seem to cross the legal line (by US standards) of being pornographic, albeit "soft-porn", but porn nonetheless. And being that his subjects are adolescent girls, some of the pictures may be, by US legal definition, child pornography. As I understand it, the legal definition of "porn" vs "art" involves depictions of sexual activity, or displaying the genital region in a sexually suggestive manner. There are pictures of young girls touching each other in a suggestive manner, girls whom appear to be masturbating, and visuals of very young girls wearing thigh-high stockings and opening their legs in a suggestive manner. And, the documentary photos and text in the rear of the book taken "on the set" seem to suggest a very hedonistic environment surrounding Mr. Hamilton and his very young models. The "Innocence" of the prior books seems to have been a facade, and one is left with an impression that Mr. Hamilton leads a "Hugh Hefner" type of existence surrounded by these girls, many of whom are are still children. I would not be suprised to see legal action brought against the publisher in this case.

I still gave the book 5 stars as this is a very well done book, and there are many, many stunningly beautiful photographs within. Plus, if the book should later become banned, it may well become a collectors item... On the other hand, it may also become a felony to possess it.

Rating:
Summary: Smashing, pure beauty!
Review: I feel this is the greatest living artist,the girls are gorgeous(!)This is pure beauty,it makes me feel better about this topsy-turvy world.Anyone that would find this book offending,needs help.

Rating:
Summary: Innocence revealed in the purest form!
Review: I have never been so moved by an artist in my life! David has captured purity, in these Angelic forms of innocence.

If only we could preserve, what David has so passionately embodied in the pages of all of his books.

I await the next release....... Tommy

Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best Photo-art Books Ever Published.
Review: I have to admit, I have rotten timing. I had just bought an autographed, first-edition copy of this book directly from the author for $200.00 when I found out that Twenty-five Years Of An Artist would be published a second time, and at a much lower price. C'est la vie. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to give a review of the book. In a word, it is magnificent. No matter what you think of David Hamilton insofar as to his photographing nude girls who are under the age of 18, one has to admit he may be the greatest photographer of the 20th Century. The photos are all exquisite, especially the landscapes. I have to agree with my fellow Marylander who stated that the picture on page 152, entitled "County Cork Ireland, 1971" is worth the price of this book alone. Of course, I am biased; I have been to Ireland and am half Irish. I know the incredible beauty of the Emerald Isle, and hold it dear to my heart. But I digress. The overall theme of this tome, inasmuch as there is one, is that we need to take time out occasionally from our workadays to discover the truly beautiful things in life. David has done that for us over the past three decades, and his pictures of stunningly beautiful young girls, of seascapes, of mountainsides, and of Venitian waterways take us away to places most us, unfortunately, can only dream about. To peruse this book is to look through a window upon our fondest dream: Living a life of cultivated leisure. I wish I could visit all the places and meet all the girls that David has photographed during his career, but even if I had the means to do so, I probably would never find the time. That is because I am stuck, like so many others in the Western World, in a "nine-to-five" sort of life. Thankfully, I can take a little bit of time and see what I am missing, instead of just thinking about it. People who take offense at the pictures of nude "underage" girls are understandably concerned about the effect this has on potential pedophiles in society. One only nee! ds to look at the countries where this book is the most popular: France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden. None of those countries have a problem with child molestation/pedophilia anywhere approaching that of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or Canada, apart from Quebec(maybe it has something to do with the English language-yikes!). People need to see past the nudity, and see this book as a whole: A presentation of the good life as seen by one who has lived it to the fullest extent: David Hamilton. Thank you, Mr. Hamilton, and thanks to Aurum for printing this second edition, made affordable to all. This is a book to be treasured by one and all forevermore.