David Bowie, 1982
Helmut Newton was born on 31 October 1920 in Berlin, Germany. His black and white erotic and dramatically charged photos grace the many covers and pages of Vogue. He was one of the original pioneers of fashion photography.
Working in the industry since the 50’s, Newton really had his break through into the industry during the seventies. The war was over and a new generation of freedom and fashion had begun, his photos were becoming noticed. He received his first campaign for the french Vogue. Women in the seventies were changing their roles and were no longer happy to stay at home, the world opened up and the boundaries were broken, It was for Newton the perfect time to use his creative development to fast forward the views of sexuality, woman, and freedom.
His subjects were natural beauties, he kept the models clean with little or no make-up and dressed them in tuxedos, or mens shirts using the juxtaposition of roles and giving the models a look of dominance, He also used celebrities as subjects, portraits were again, black and white, powerful and pure with little make up and no touch ups.
He was friends with the likes of Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld, creative fashion designers that also played important roles with an androgynous look.
In his later life, Newton lived in both Monte Carlo and Los Angeles, California. He was in an accident on 23 January 2004, when his car sped out of control and hit a wall in the driveway of the Chateau Marmot Hotel.
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