2. EARLY LIFE
born in Berlin, Germany as Helmut Neustädter on October 31st, 1920
son of Klara “Claire” Marquis and Max Neustädter, a button factory owner, Helmut grew up in a wealthy family
his family was of Jewish descent, later causing his family to lose their factory and Helmut to be briefly interned at
the Kristallnacht concentration camp
at age 8, his brother showed him the red light district of Berlin, which would later influence a his photographic
work
attended the Heinrich-von Treistschke-Realgymnasium(1928-1932) and the American School in Berlin (1933-1935)
where at the age of 12 he became interested in photography.
at age 12, he bought his first camera and was hooked on photography
after his parents fled to South America, Helmut left Germany, a month after being interned, on December 5th,
1938
boarded a ship, bound for China, with others trying to escape increasing Nazi persecution, and ended up in
Singapore, where he worked as a photographer before being interned by the British and sent to Australia.
3. EARLY PHOTOGRAPHY
became interested in photography early on, purchased a box camera at age 12.
first shots of an underground subway all came out black, except for one image, taken above ground.
took early photographs of his girlfriends in his mothers clothing,
age 16, learned to use a camera professionally
worked for German photographer, Yva (Elsie Neulander Simon) as an apprentice.
Yva was a female fashion-and-portrait photographer
job as assistant lasted two years, from 1936-1938 when increasing pressure
from the Nazis forced Yva to close her studio
(Yva later died in a concentration camp)
Helmut moved to Singapore, to pursue press photography,
moved to Australia, met June Browne, and married in 1948
enlisted in the Australian army around the time of the war, and served for five years.
set up his studio, and began working for Australian Vogue
Helmut Newton for Australian Vogue, 1960
4. Helmut Newton & Alice Springs
met in actress June Browne, who performed under
the name June Brunell, in Australia while photographing her
married in 1948, in Paris
June, by Helmut Newton
June changed her name to Alice Springs, after the central Australia town, as her
photographic pseudonym
Alice worked for a time as an actress and as a painter before devoting herself to
photography (self-taught)
Helmut and Alice, self-portrait by Alice Springs
Alice took on an assignment of Helmut’s after he became ill in 1970, thus beginning her
photographic career
she had a decidedly more simple style than Helmut, but nevertheless, encouraged him to
explore the intersection of sexuality and art,
Helmut and Alice lived together for more than fifty years
Since his death, she has gone on to manage his estate & the Helmut Newton foundation, as
Helmut Newton by Alice Springs
5. HELMUT NEWTON: influences
influenced early on by trips to the red light district of Berlin
took inspiration from the surrealists, like Man Ray’s photographs, Paul
Delvaux’s paintings, and Hans Bellmer’s tableaux
Hans Bellmer Paul Delvaux
Man Ray
Newton
6. HELMUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
took press photography while in Singapore, for a local newspaper, the Singapore Strait Times
after moving to Australia, and serving in the Army, Helmut opened his own studio, determined to make it as a professional
photographer
took jobs doing wedding photos, mail order catalog assignements and baby books before working for Australian Vogue.
after moving to London, began doing editorial work for several fashion publications.
came into prominence as a fashion photographer in the 1970s with his unique, provocative images.
1971, suffered a heart attack, a life changing event, which with the help and support of his wife, lead him to pursue
some of the darker, more erotically charged images he had always wanted to produce--
ultimately resulting in his status as one of the most unique, iconic, fashion-photographers of all time.
1976, published “White Women” which contained some of his most radical images
continued to do editorial work throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, after moving to Monte Carlo with June, doing
advertising work for clients and publications like Vogue and Vanity Fair
7. HELMUT NEWTON: STYLE
Overtly sexual themes in his images, derived from his childhood and travel experiences, that were uncommon
in fashion photography at the time.
"...there was a girl, a printer in the darkroom, who was an ex-Bauhaus student. She used to wear black velvet suits with a white shirt and collar. She also wore a monocle -- that just drove
me sexually insane."”
photographed subjects who formed the social elite, often portraying them in kinky, menacing situations
8. Philosophy on Location Shoots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1uzcFLAoFk
Helmut by June, part 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9wkCLkVWcI
9. "What I find interesting is working in a society with certain taboos
- and fashion photography is about that kind of society.....To have
taboos, then to get around them - that's interesting."
HELMUT NEWTON
10. HELMUT NEWTON: WOMEN
portrayed women as tough, aggressive, demonstrative figures.
saw the power in sexuality, and the female form, and tried to capture and manipulate those notions
exposed the discomfort women endure to be perceived as beautiful, sexy and alluring
images from Here They Come, Helmut Newton
13. Magazine Work
worked at Jardin Des Modes, French Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Queen, Nova,
Playboy, Stern, US Vogue, Australian Vogue & Italian Vogue.
instrumental in transforming fashion photography during 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
1964 US Vogue Cover
1969 Elle editorial 1971 Nova editorial
16. DEATH
died January 23rd, 2004 in a car crash
reports say Helmut was leaving the parking lot of the Chateau Marmont, onto Sunset Boulevard when his Cadillac lost control
died 15 years to the day, after friend Salvador Dali, who he photographed shortly before Dali’s death.
Helmut Newton’s final shoot for Vogue
17. SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
<<----------------------- White Women, 1976
Munich, 1976
Paris, 1976
Sleepless Nights, 1978 ------------------->>
24 Photos Lithos, 1976
Big Nudes, 1981
Helmut Newton, 1981
World Without Men, 1984
Private Property, (series i, ii, & iii), 1984
<< ------------------------- Helmut Newton’s Illustrated, no.1 & no.2, 1986 &1987
Helmut Newton in Moscow, 1989
Helmut Newton’s Illustrated, no.3 &4, 1991 & 2000
VIP/Very Important Portraits, 1992
Naked & Dressed in Hollywood, 1992
Eroticism in the 20th Century, 1992
Immorale, 1993
Us & Them (with Alice Springs), 1998
Sumo, 1999-------------------------->>
18. SELECTED QUOTATIONS
My job, as a portrait photographer, is to seduce, amuse and entertain.
It’s not that I don’t like white paper backgrounds. A woman does not live in front of white
paper. She lives on the street, in a motorcar, in a hotel room.
In the photographs themselves, there’s a definite contrast between the figres and
location- I like that kind of California backyard look; clapboard houses, staircases
outdoors.
19. WORKS CITED
Autobiography, by Helmut Newton
Design Boom, http://www.designboom.com/history/helmutnewton.html
Exposures, Helmut Newton looks back, an article from The New Yorker
Helmut Newton’s Australian Years, article from The La Trobe Journal
‘
Helmut Newton, Frames from the Edge, (film)
Helmut Newton Foundation, http://www.helmutnewton.com/
Helmut by June, part 1,2,3,4,5 (film)
Helmut Newton’s Sumo, by Helmut Newton and June Newton
Helmut Newton, Who Remade Fashion Photography, Dies at 83, article from New York Times
Taschen, http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/photography/all/02601/facts.helmut_newtons_sumo.htm
Us & Them, by Helmut Newton and Alice Springs
Vogue UK, http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/biographies/helmut-newton-biography
