Jock Sturges

Rating:
Summary: The definitive Jock Sturges monograph
Review: A family friend got this book for Christmas this year, and from the first time I opened it I was mesmorized. Jock Sturges really captures the pure essence and beauty of the human body in every one of his photographs. As an aspiring photographer myself, this book has inspired me beyond words to fufill my dream. This book is a must for anyone's collection.

Rating:
Summary: An inspiring, intriguing, and beautiful book
Review: A family friend got this book for Christmas this year, and from the first time I opened it I was mesmorized. Jock Sturges really captures the pure essence and beauty of the human body in every one of his photographs. As an aspiring photographer myself, this book has inspired me beyond words to fufill my dream. This book is a must for anyone's collection.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: After having seen "The Last Day of Summer" and "Radiant Identities", I knew Jock Sturges's work was phenomenal. With this publication, he has accomplished the impossible and "outdone himself". The images and quality of the printing are outstanding. I give it a 9 out of 10 with the hope that in the future Mr. Sturges will consider including more boys in his published work. This, however,is not a complaint, merely a suggestion. I look forward to more from Jock Sturges.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, beautiful, and thoughtful
Review: After viewing this book several times I believe I have come to understand what the photogrpaher is doing. Seeing the models progress in age and maturity is both exciting and thought provoking. The poses gently force the viewer to see the models as real people verses just bodies or shapes. They, (the models), are there because they want to be there. Their beauty is self evident and the viewer can almost hear their voices saying, "here I am; deal with it world!" The fact that many of the models are nude only makes the voices seem louder and more forceful. How brave of the models and the photographer to stay with their vision in a mad world. Also, after viewing the photographs; I can only view their critics as small minded, misguided, book burning, insecure fanatics uncomfortable with themselves and their own bodies and emotions. God created beauty and Jock Sturges photographed it as only a master could, in all it's beauty.

Rating:
Summary: Got me to go to Montalivet
Review: As a serious yet amatuer photographer, and one fascinated with portrait photography, I was truly intrigued by the pictures in this book. I find these images mezmorizing. the light in the pictures is sincerely magical, so much so that I had to discover why. So, I packed up my family and went to Montalivet, France, and lived in a naturist campground for two weeks. This is an incredible place, with a mystical feel in the air, and, yes, incredible light. The ocean tide moves out revealing an endless flat, and wet landscape, with mud pools of clay where one can paint one's body (or someone else's) and become part of the "moonscape". Everyday, the sun sets and the same magical light appears, with the same wonderful, unpretentious people drink it up. This was 5 years ago, and my family has returned to this spot, and others like it over and over again. Thank you, Jock, for opening my eyes and my lens.
Truly a must have for any fan of good, human photographic honesty. PS his other books are great too!!

Rating:
Summary: Got me to go to Montalivet
Review: As a serious yet amatuer photographer, and one fascinated with portrait photography, I was truly intrigued by the pictures in this book. I find these images mezmorizing. the light in the pictures is sincerely magical, so much so that I had to discover why. So, I packed up my family and went to Montalivet, France, and lived in a naturist campground for two weeks. This is an incredible place, with a mystical feel in the air, and, yes, incredible light. The ocean tide moves out revealing an endless flat, and wet landscape, with mud pools of clay where one can paint one's body (or someone else's) and become part of the "moonscape". Everyday, the sun sets and the same magical light appears, with the same wonderful, unpretentious people drink it up. This was 5 years ago, and my family has returned to this spot, and others like it over and over again. Thank you, Jock, for opening my eyes and my lens.
Truly a must have for any fan of good, human photographic honesty. PS his other books are great too!!

Rating:
Summary: The separation of art and pornography
Review: Beyond the initial subject, a photograph also captures the intention with which it is taken. Whether it be an advertisment, a magazine cover, pornography, or your family album. The motive behind the photographer rendering the image is evident within the image. It is that intention that separates art from pornography. Thank you Amazon for carrying Jock Sturges' books, and thank you Jock for this work. I look foward to the day when my photographs are as gorgeous as yours. Michael

Rating:
Summary: A Masterful Work
Review: Each of the many photographs is art, pure and simple art. In it you explore beauty, the beauty of what it is to be human and the innocense of youth.

Rating:
Summary: People cared for beautifully.
Review: Gerry Badger, in a listing of 250 key photographers, refers to Jock Sturges as the leading photographer of the "natural" nude (p. 170, Collecting Photography, Mitchell Beazley). This is fine, as far as it goes, but is too limited an introduction to Mr. Sturges's work. Mr. Sturges's photography is not limited to nudes. Neither can his subject matter be properly described as the nude or the natural nude. Rather, Mr. Sturges cares deeply about people. He is interested in people - in the whole of what a person is - and his work reflects this valuing. Simply turn to page 114 of the first Scalo book - the book I'm reviewing here - or page 31 or 87 or 126 - this is a wonderfully rich book - to find the definition of a great portrait.

I find that I can go back to Mr. Sturges's books again and again with pleasure and for profit. I look at people differently since meeting the books - with greater pleasure and discernment. Having Mr. Sturges's work in my home makes my house feel more like home. Enough said.

Mr. Sturges's monographs include Jock Sturges (Scalo), Jock Sturges: New Work 1996 - 2000 (Scalo), The Last Day of Summer (Aperture), Radiant Identities (Aperture), Notes (Aperture), and Evolution of Grace (Gakken). The Gakken book is printed too darkly (at least the copy I have is) but I'm grateful to the book, nevertheless, for the images it shares. Those wishing to catch a glimpse of Mr. Sturges's Irish work could look for an April 2001 copy of B&W: Black & White Magazine.

Rating:
Summary: People cared for beautifully.
Review: Gerry Badger, in a listing of 250 key photographers, refers to Jock Sturges as the leading photographer of the "natural" nude (p. 170, Collecting Photography, Mitchell Beazley). This is fine, as far as it goes, but is too limited an introduction to Mr. Sturges's work. Mr. Sturges's photography is not limited to nudes. Neither can his subject matter be properly described as the nude or the natural nude. Rather, Mr. Sturges cares deeply about people. He is interested in people - in the whole of what a person is - and his work reflects this valuing. Simply turn to page 114 of the first Scalo book - the book I'm reviewing here - or page 31 or 87 or 126 - this is a wonderfully rich book - to find the definition of a great portrait.

I find that I can go back to Mr. Sturges's books again and again with pleasure and for profit. I look at people differently since meeting the books - with greater pleasure and discernment. Having Mr. Sturges's work in my home makes my house feel more like home. Enough said.

Mr. Sturges's monographs include Jock Sturges (Scalo), Jock Sturges: New Work 1996 - 2000 (Scalo), The Last Day of Summer (Aperture), Radiant Identities (Aperture), and Evolution of Grace (Gakken). The Gakken book is printed too darkly (at least the copy I have is) but I'm grateful to the book, nevertheless, for the images it shares. Those wishing to catch a glimpse of Mr. Sturges's Irish work could look for an April 2001 copy of B&W: Black & White Magazine.