Embedded Files
Who is Helmut Newton?
Who is Helmut Newton?
<<< This is Helmut Newton. Newton was a photographer in the 20th century, most known for his black and white fashion and nude photography. He did advertising and portrait photography as well. He had a certain aesthetic no one else had.
Background
Newton was born in Germany on October 31, 1920 into a Jewish family and lived his life till January 23, 2004 making him 83 when he passed. Helmut passed away because his Cadillac had sped out of control and ran into a wall of the Chateau Marmont Hotel, he was leaving, in L.A. The cause of death was not determined but some believed that he had a heart attack. Newton's parents were Max Neustadter and Klara Marquis. June Brown, now known as June Newton or Alice Springs, met Helmut for a modeling job and later became his wife.
Schooling
Helmut didn't take school very seriously because he knew he wanted to pursue being a photographer.
Newton attended school at the Heinrich von Treitschke Realgymnasium in Berlin-Schoneberg from 1930-1934
He also attended the American school in Berlin-Schoneberg from 1934-1938
A gymnasium in Germany is different than what a gymnasium is in the United States. In Germany a gymnasium is a secondary school preparing students for higher education at a university, kinda like a high school in the U.S.
Jobs he had throughout his years
Newton has had a lot of jobs over his years:
He worked for photographer, Elsie Neulander Simon
He was hired as a photographer for Straits Times
He was a portrait photographer
Worked as a fruit picker
He enlisted into the Australian Army, working as a truck driver
Opened a studio with his buddy to work on fashion, theater, and industrial photography
He patterned up with Henry Talbot
Helmut got a job at Vogue Magazine to illustrate fashion in a special Australian supplement 1956-1957
12 month contract with British Vogue from 1957-1959
Contract with Australian Vogue
What makes him so famous?
Helmut was famous for his photography, but especially his, what I would call, women empowerment fashion photography. Helmut brought realism and rawness into his work, that no one had seen much of before him. His photos create a sense that women are powerful, independent, and can be confident in their own skin, not sexualized as an object but as a powerful individual.
What is the artwork style like?
Words that relate to Helmuts artwork style are sharp, elegant, daring, and powerful. Newton photographed in color too, but most of them are in black and white, which was his specialty. He was always on top of what was new or popular at the time.
Helmut Newton, Elsa Peretti in a 'Bunny' costume by Halston, New York, 1975
Helmut Newton, Elsa Peretti in a 'Bunny' costume by Halston, New York, 1975
Sigourney Weaver, Los Angeles, 1983, Helmut Newton Estate
Sigourney Weaver, Los Angeles, 1983, Helmut Newton Estate
Heather looking through a keyhole, Paris, 1994
Heather looking through a keyhole, Paris, 1994
Helmut Newton, Suburban Pool, Melbourne, 1973
Helmut Newton, Suburban Pool, Melbourne, 1973
Helmut Newton, Mario Valentino, 1998, Helmut Newton Estate
Helmut Newton, Mario Valentino, 1998, Helmut Newton Estate
Helmut Newton, Thierry Mugler, Milan, 1998, Helmut Newton Estate
Helmut Newton, Thierry Mugler, Milan, 1998, Helmut Newton Estate
Women into Men, Yves Saint Laurent, French Vogue, Paris, 1979, Helmut Newton Foundation
Women into Men, Yves Saint Laurent, French Vogue, Paris, 1979, Helmut Newton Foundation
April 1966, Vogue Helmut Newton
April 1966, Vogue Helmut Newton
Rue Aubriot, Yves Saint Laurent, Vogue Paris, Paris 1975, Helmut Newton Estate/Maconochie Photography
Rue Aubriot, Yves Saint Laurent, Vogue Paris, Paris 1975, Helmut Newton Estate/Maconochie Photography
Books/Movies/Commercials/Magazine
Books: Newton has over 30 books. Another website that was found said Helmut had 83 books. His first book, White Women, published in 1976 was and still is legendary. White Women is a book full of Helmut's photographs that embrace the raw beauty of the naked female body.
Movies: Helmut has only 6 movies going way back to 1989 all the way till 2003. There is a newer documentary that came out in 2020 about him called Helmut Newton: The Bad And The Beautiful.
Commercials: Newton was in a commercial for Absolut Vodka with Kristen McMenamy. Newton also directed 2 TV commercials for Chanel no. 5, starring Catherine Deneuve.
Magazines: Helmut Newton dedicated a lot of his photography career to magazine shooting. Helmut worked for every Vogue possible, including: French, British, Italian, German, Aulstralian, and American. He was also involved in other magazines like, Elle, Bazaar, Marie Claire, Nova, and Queen.
Awards
Newton received many awards for his work: (these are some I found)
The French Grand Prix National de la Photographie
Officer des Arts. Lettreset Sciences
The Grand Cross of Merit (Das Grosse Bundesuerdienstkreuz) of Federal Republic of Germany 1992
Commendation to Commandeur de L'Ordre des Arts et Lettres by French ministry of culture
Black and White Ad Campaign for Villeroy & Boch from 1985
Cameras he used
This picture shows a glass case full of all kinds of cameras Helmut used. You can go visit this showcase at The Helmut Newton Foundation located in Berlin under the section Helmut Newton's Private Property. Helmut got his first camera at age 12 when working for a German photographer, Elsie Neulander Simon. Newton used many different cameras throughout his photography career, a list some of the cameras he used include: 4x5 Graflex Super D, Plaubel Makina 67, Instamatic, Fujiflim 645, Olympus OM1, Olympus OM2, Nikon FM2, Koncia, Pentax-ME, Polaroid, Canon EOS 5, Canon EOS 100, Kodak Tri-X, TMax 100, TMax 400, and Olympus Styles Epic 'MJU 11' .
Museum Fur Fotografie
This is the Museum Fur Fotografie or also known as The Helmut Newton Foundation. The museum is full of Helmut's fashion and nude photographs along with other temporary exhibits. This museum is located in Berlin, Germany. The lower two stories of this building is dedicated to Helmut with the name being Helmut Newton's Private Property. They also have other exhibits that aren't permanent like Helmut Newton Polaroids, Pigozzi and Paparazzi, War and Peace, Lachapelle: Men, Nachtwey, 'Newton, and Helmut Newton: sex and Landscapes. Admission for one day at the museum is 10,00 EUR and for an Annual ticket is 25,00 EUR.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=YGwDmjBB1UM
A tour of the inside of the museum ^
linked here ^
Page updated
Report abuse