There are not many photographers in the world who are distinguished by their unique style. The famous British-French photographer and director David Hamilton created his own style, which is called the “Hamilton style”, with characteristic lighting, grain and soft focus. A style that delights viewers and inspires many photographers. This technique makes his works similar to the paintings of the French Impressionists.

His photographs show soft daylight, pastel colors, lace and flowers. Romantic, calm images. Often his models are naked, but thanks to the talent of the photographer they always look beautiful and decent; these works can be shown to people of any age.

Although David Hamilton is a multifaceted photographer and his photographs of Venice are not inferior to portraits, he has received worldwide recognition as a master of erotic photography. Hamilton's models, as a rule, are very young naked girls, but at the same time they are fair and chaste. It's not just beautiful, but also poetic. Despite this, the photographer was repeatedly criticized and found himself at the center of disputes about the limits of what was permitted.

Hamilton's photographs hang in the Library of Congress, the Royal Palace of Denmark, Carnegie Hall and many museums around the world. His success was manifested in the release of several dozen albums that sold millions of copies and five feature films. His work has appeared in top magazines such as Vogue, R'Lalites, Twen, Playboy, and has been exhibited all over the world, including New York, Tokyo, London, Hamburg, Milan and Paris.

Bilitis (1977)

In 1975, the ideologist of the “new novel” Alain Robbe-Grillet, as a sign of his admiration for the photographer, gave his name to the main character of his novel “Topology of a Ghost Town”. Director Mathieu Seiler speaks about the significant influence of Hamilton's films and photographs on his work. In December 1977, simultaneously with the release of the film Bilitis, an exhibition of the photographer's work was held at the Images Gallery in New York. In 2003, his soft-focus style returned to leading fashion publications: Vogue, ELLE and others.

“We can talk about David Hamilton for a long time. This is a brilliant artist. Thanks to this, you can close your eyes to many other things. He found his niche. Creates beauty. And this is the main thing...”

Olga Sviblova, director
Moscow House of Photography

A short interview with the photographer:

Perhaps some questions will seem a little banal to you, but despite two exhibitions that took place in Russia, almost nothing is known about you. When did you start taking photographs?

Probably almost at the same time when I left school and went to work in an architectural bureau. Initially, I picked up a camera for fun, and this very exciting activity gradually became the main thing in my life.

- Do you remember what camera you started shooting with?

No, I don't remember exactly, but I'm pretty sure it was one of those rangefinders that disappeared in the 50s or 60s.

- Which camera can you say is your favorite camera?

You will be surprised, but this is a Polaroid. It has some unique features and effects, which, however, are rarely used.

- Your works are characterized by soft daylight, do you shoot differently?

I only use natural light. Never a flash, never an incandescent lamp!

- Do you use digital cameras?

Yes. Since the end of 2006, when digital technology reached a level of quality that suits me. Until I tried to shoot with a good digital camera, “digital” for me remained just a good idea, alas, not ready for use in life. Now I willingly use the capabilities of modern technologies.

- What prospects for the development of digital photography do you see?

I have almost no technical knowledge and don't know how it works. I love popping out the lens, pressing a button and getting a picture, which is why I love Polaroid so much. I enjoy the results directly.

- When did you start shooting nudes?

Hmm... I don’t know, the best way to say it is “I can’t remember.” Probably as soon as I started filming.

- How did you find your style?

I guess any successful artist who introduces a new style doesn't do it on purpose. This all happens naturally. This is what distinguishes a true artist. It is not the photographer who finds the style, but the style who finds the photographer.

- Can you tell me how you do it technically?

I can say, but then I will have to kill you. Seriously, it's hard to explain, I only shoot what I see and love, I shoot so that this love is captured in photography. Maybe this is the secret.

- You are called one of the most successful photographers of your time, what do you think about fame?

I don't care at all about fame, I prefer to keep a low profile and let my work speak for itself. I've gotten recognition from a ton of people, but it doesn't really matter.

- What should a photographer do to achieve success?

I would say that there is one key to success: never share your secrets with others. In fact, I am doing something that no one has done before. This is the basis of many success stories.

- Is it true that you very quickly became a successful photographer?

It seems to me, yes, because soon after I began to photograph more or less seriously, I left architecture and joined the staff of magazines working in the field of art and fashion. I looked at the work of other photographers and said to myself: “I can do better!” And I succeeded.

- How and where do you find your models?

Models are constantly provided to me by all and sundry: acquaintances, agencies, clients... If I say that this girl may have prospects, then her career as a model is guaranteed.

- Which model did you enjoy working with the most?

Of those with whom I had the opportunity to work, the most memorable were Joan, Mandy, Mina, but my favorite was and remains Mona, who played Melissa in one of my films, Bilitis.

- I can’t help but ask, did you have any troubles because your models were so young?

Of course, all sorts of things happened - conversations, gossip, but, thank God, it didn’t lead to trouble. There were even publications - some journalists are ready to go to great lengths to publish a provocative headline, but I have long stopped paying attention to this. Something else is important. The people who love my work, are inspired by my work, outnumber the critics a thousand to one, and that's more than enough.

- Which of your young colleagues can you name as the most promising?

I don't follow them, neither the young nor the old. In general, I am interested in live communication and emotions typical of youth, Nabokov wrote about this, Balthus paints, and I take photographs. This is the only thing that interests me about photography.

We know that one poster signed by you sold for more than $12,000, but how much do you value your work?

I don't care much about money. Enough to live on - and it’s nice...

(On November 25, 2016, David was found unconscious in his apartment in Paris. He soon died. According to one version, the photographer committed suicide...)

David Hamilton is a French photographer of British origin. He became famous thanks to a series of photographs of teenage girls. No one is indifferent to his work: fans are ready to purchase photographs for exorbitant amounts of money, and opponents threaten to bring him to court. Be that as it may, scandal always attracts attention, and David Hamilton has become one of the most famous and discussed photographers of our time.

Biography

In April 1933, David Hamilton was born in Great Britain. The war found him as a schoolboy, his family had to evacuate from London. However, after peace was concluded, they returned here again, and when David graduated from school, they all moved to Paris together. France became the photographer's second homeland.

For some time, Hamilton worked as an architect, then as a designer at ELLE. At the beginning of his creative career, he was engaged in advertising and commercial photography. His career developed rapidly, and soon Hamilton took the post of art director at Queen, and a little later at Printemps. Success quickly came to him. The works were published in magazines throughout Europe, and the corporate style became easily recognizable. The photographer still holds exhibitions and publishes albums. His track record also includes 6 films. He had a great influence on many modern photographers and directors, which they readily admit.

Hamilton style

As a rule, David Hamilton films teenage girls or very young women. The model with her hair down, in light, draping clothes or without them at all, and almost without makeup, appears as the embodiment of innocence. Soft light emphasizes the naturalness and ease of images. The footage is imbued with hippie romanticism and retro nostalgia. Hamilton's work can be unmistakably distinguished by its blurred focus and large grain.

In his works, Hamilton captures that amazing moment when sensuality awakens in a girl and she becomes a woman. From the point of view of art and artistic expression, his photographs are excellent. Excellent mastery of technique, precise composition, soft harmonious coloring are combined with that elusive feeling called atmosphere. However, there is also a moral aspect: is it acceptable to portray girls, almost children, in such images?

Scandalous photographer

The eroticism in Hamilton's works is visible to the naked eye. It would seem that he is not the first and he is not the last to work in this specific genre. What adds piquancy to the situation is that the photographer’s favorite models are teenage girls. Whether it is art or not, society has not yet decided. If in the seventies the attitude towards sex and eroticism was more relaxed, then by the nineties they were replaced by a conservative attitude. People picketed bookstores selling Hamilton's albums. It was quite possible to end up in court for storing a photographer’s work. By the way, such a precedent actually took place in 2010. David Hamilton himself reacts coolly to the attacks, declaring that smart people will be able to distinguish obscenity from sensuality and appreciate the artistic aspect of his work.

David Hamilton Albums

The photographer's first album was Dreams of a young girl, released in 1971. To date, more than fifteen publications have been published. Among them are David Hamilton, Souvenirs, The Young Girl, Un été à Saint-Tropez, A Place In The Sun, Holiday Snapshots. Perhaps the most famous was The Age of Innocence, published in 1995. To this day, photographs from this album are the first to come to mind when mentioning a creative personality named David Hamilton. The photographs for the publication were selected in a single manner. The black and white photographs show the master's favorite models, girls at a tender age, dressed very conventionally. Hamilton's latest publication to date is Erotic Tales. Since 2006, he has not released an album, but continues to publish in magazines.

Director's works of the master

Hamilton became famous not only for his photographs. In the 70-80s, he directed six feature films, and wrote the script for two of them. They are all erotic melodramas in which a young girl explores her budding sensuality. The most famous of them are “Bilitis”, “Laura” and “First Desires”. “Tender Cousins” and “Summer in St. Tropez” were continued in the form of photo albums of the same name. Critics do not rate Hamilton's films as highly as his photographs, but they fit harmoniously into the overall picture of the master's creative heritage.

The controversy surrounding Hamilton has been raging for decades. While opponents of his work continue to discuss the moral merits of the photographs, the income from their sales amounts to millions. The master's works adorn Carnegie Hall, the Royal Palace in Denmark and the USA. The photographer wrote his name in history next to such masters as Henri Cartier-Bresson. No matter how envious and moralists try to denigrate David Hamilton, he remains one of the most talented photographers of our time.

Childhood years

The photographer is originally from Great Britain. He was born in 1933 in London. I spent my childhood years there. David was a schoolboy when World War II broke out. His family had to evacuate to Dorset - a place Hamilton remembers fondly even now.

After 1945, the boy and his family return to the capital of England. In London he finishes his studies at school, and then the family moves to France. Hamilton settled in this country for a long time: he still lives here.

Youth time

At the age of 20, David went to Paris. Peter Knapp hired him for ELLE magazine. There Hamilton tried himself as a graphic designer. Soon the editors of Queen magazine invite David to London as an art director. However, Hamilton, who had fallen in love with France, very soon returned to Paris and took the same position in the editorial office of Printemps.

During this period, his photography studies began on a commercial basis. Very soon David achieves success thanks to his bright author's style. His portraits and more are published in Realites, Photo and Twen. Already in the late 60s, the audience began to recognize the works of the future great photographer.

The photographer was a dizzying success: albums of his works were published in huge editions, and the number of exhibitions could not be counted. In addition, David Hamilton became a producer of 5 films.

In 1977, the film Bilitis was released, and a photo exhibition was held in one of the largest galleries in New York (Images Gallery). By this time, the photographer was already at the peak of his fame. And in 2003, his signature shooting style (soft focus) again burst onto the pages of major fashion magazines such as ELLE, Vogue, etc.

What's immoral? The photographer is accused of immorality

Despite the resounding success, fierce debate among moralists still rages around David Hamilton. The fact is that in the collection of the photographer’s works there are many photographs of naked teenage girls. Is this acceptable?

If in the 70s the attitude towards erotica in America and Europe was loyal, then the 90s were distinguished by conservatism. During this period, active protest began. Real rallies were held at the doors of bookstores. The police also got involved in the case: there are known cases when law enforcement officers confiscated albums and books from amateur photographers. Once (in 2010) the case even went to court.

Opponents of the notorious master often rely on the opinion of another master of photography, whose age has also exceeded 70 years. Hamilton's opponent, Glenn Holland, once told reporters that David's resounding success was unfair and disappointing.

In David's second homeland - France - there has never been such a stormy condemnation of his photographs. Rejection of photographers is most widespread in the USA and Great Britain. However, the efforts of opponents are ineffective. It is known that in the 90s, Christian rallies took place in America. The protesters demanded a ban on the sale of the photographer’s books and albums, but they did not achieve their goal.

Later, in 2005, such a ban was issued in one of the UK counties, but was soon lifted. The police had to publicly apologize to the author of the photographs, since the accusations brought against him were not properly substantiated.

As for the reaction of the photographer himself to attacks and accusations, he takes it all quite calmly. David Hamilton considers his photographs not immoral, but sensual. And he is confident that there are many people who are able to distinguish one from the other and not follow the lead of the negative press.

Features of the technology

Hamilton prefers to work with young teenage girls. The model must appear in the most natural way possible, so her hair is loose, there is almost no makeup, and there are few clothes. All the photographer’s efforts are aimed at capturing the amazing age when the woman in a girl awakens.

David Hamilton is one of the most successful photographers of our time. His works were exhibited in the largest galleries in Europe and America, and his books were published in millions of copies. However, first of all, sadly, the photographer’s work is known in connection with numerous accusations of immorality and even the distribution of child pornography.

Hamilton was born in London in 1933, but after finishing his education, interrupted by the evacuation during World War II, he moved to France, where he took a position as a graphic designer at ELLE magazine. His career developed rapidly, and he was soon known as a photographer with his own recognizable style. By the end of the 60s, Hamilton's sensual, dreamy photographs were published in many publications, and fashion magazine photographers began to copy his shooting style. His continued success was accompanied by dozens of million-selling albums, five films and countless exhibitions.

Hamilton's photographs are soft-focus, slightly grainy, and have a hippie-generation neo-romantic feel. The typical Hamilton model is a very young girl or teenager with long flowing hair, almost no makeup and, you can't take the word out of the song, often with almost no clothes. Soft draperies of long dresses, light sandals, graceful silhouettes, natural light - all this creates surprisingly harmonious images that turn into a hymn to the “age of innocence” - a fleeting period of awakening sensuality.

A typical Hamilton model is a very young or teenage girl

However, it cannot be denied that many of these photographs are openly erotic, which, due to the tender age of the models, has made Hamilton's work the subject of endless debate on the topic of “is it pornography or art?” As the free-spirited spirit of the 1970s gave way to the more conservative attitudes of the 1990s, the debate became more practical. In America, citizens full of Christian indignation staged protests at the doors of stores selling Hamilton's books. In the UK, police have seized albums from photography enthusiasts several times, calling them child pornography. In 2010, one man was even sued for possessing four books, including Hamilton's The Age of Innocence and Sally Mann's Still Time. By the way, Mann, whose photographs also often contain pedophilic and, moreover, incestuous overtones, is one of the very few modern photographers who has received public approval from Hamilton.

However, in France, which long ago became the photographer’s second homeland, passions around the moral aspect of Hamilton’s works never reached such intensity. The master himself takes the attacks and accusations rather indifferently, answering that people who are smart enough to distinguish between sensuality and pornography will appreciate the artistic component of the photographs, and not echo the hysteria fanned by the press.

The work of this officially obscene photographer is represented in the Library of Congress and the Danish Royal Palace.

Director of the Moscow House of Photography Olga Sviblova calls this artist a genius: “He found his niche. Creates beauty. And this is the main thing...”

Hamilton spent his childhood in London. With the outbreak of World War II, he stopped attending school. His family moved to Dorset, which became his lifelong inspiration. After the war, the Hamilton family returned to London, and after David graduated from school they moved to France.

Hamilton first worked as an architect. At 20, he went to Paris, where he worked as a graphic designer for Peter Knapp at ELLE magazine. Having received an invitation to the position of art director of Queen magazine, he moved to London and after working there for some time, he returned to Paris and became art director of Printemps. Since then, David has been involved in commercial photography, and his unique style brings him success.

His works published in Realites, Twen and Photo. By the end of the sixties, photographs of Hamilton had become recognizable. His further success was accompanied by dozens of million-selling albums, five films and a huge number of exhibitions. In 1975, Robbe-Grillet, as a sign of his admiration for the photographer, gave his name to the main character of his novel “Topology of a Ghost Town.” In December 1977, in conjunction with the release of the film Bilitis, an exhibition of the photographer's work was held at the Images Gallery in New York. In 2003, his soft-focus style returned to leading fashion publications: Vogue, ELLE.

There is hardly another photographer whose work would be discussed so hotly and for a long time. His works cause numbness in some, awe in others, but there are also those who manage to see something obscene in the romantic images of nudes.

Hamilton is the most famous photographer to photograph child nudity. In the late 1990s, conservative American Christians protested outside bookstores that sold Hamilton's books. Their efforts yielded no results. In 2005, a man was convicted of possessing 19,000 photographs of children, including pictures of Hamilton. In response, Glenn Holland, a Hamilton spokesman, said: "We are deeply saddened and disappointed by this as... David is one of the most successful photographers in the world. His books sell millions." In 2005, police in the southern UK county of Surrey outlawed David Hamilton's books. Police were later forced to make a public apology for the unsubstantiated allegations made by detective Simon Ledger and state that there was no basis for banning Hamilton's work.