oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

just heard that david hamilton is dead

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Yes, RIP. His books were very popular when I was at college and hanging out with friends at the local art school. Very dreamy images, typically of adolescent girls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4sRTsMth6w . It was considered a time of innocence then, not sure it would be now unfortunately.

(Download)

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Only one problem... He was under investigation for rape...

Dedo Loc: NY, Uruguay

Like Jock Sturges' photography, Hamilton's work is considered artistic and valid. Personally, I get a queasy feeling
thinking about grown men interested in taking pictures of naked young girls.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Yes I've just read that. Potentially another person that took advantage of his position, may have been a sexual predator, and may have committed suicide.

It is very troubling indeed to think about how many abusers may be still engaging in such behavior.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

If that makes you uncomfortable then please NEVER visit the nudey rudey forum here. A whole bunch of old pervs pretending they admire the lighting etc.
If you can live with the discomfort then take a look cos its the biggest larf for free you will ever get. Fat old boilers, covered in tats, starkers in the name of "art". Its a scream I assure you.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

For me the dividing line is the ultimate motivation. If it were to capture the essence of youth in an artistic manner, I'm OK with that. If a photographer has ulterior motives, then I have an issue with that.
--Bob

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I just read Fidel Castro is too.
--Bob

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

If Hamilton was a "Predator" then what are the parents of all the young ladies that modeled for him? Pimps?

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

though his worth as a man might be in question, he was very good at capturing that brief period
that transforms a child into a woman

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Only if they were actively aware and willingly part of the process, if such a "process" ever existed. Firstly, the allegations are as yet unproven, although it is possible that they could be legitimate. We may never know. However, we are finding more and more historical evidence of problens that we didn't think about in our "Age of Innocence."

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

I completely agree, but with such work that some people considered to be 'borderline' at best comes an enhanced responsibility for transparency and independent observers. If it was found out that he did, in fact "cross the line" then it casts doubt on so many things, which I find disturbing in many ways. I've always liked his work, but now I'm glad I never owned any of it in any form. Consenting adults is one thing, but impressionable children or adolescents are a very different ball of wax.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Me too, it's creepy.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

So to question a little further, what is it that makes it creepy? There isn't anything wrong with the human form, nor with the transition from childhood to adulthood, in my opinion.

Is it ourselves and our own personal motivations or peculiarities that we should be questioning? Is the problem in our own minds?

It seems to be our own motives that we should be questioning, and certainly any actions that we take as a result of our own possibly misplaced feelings. The boys and girls are the innocent ones, and our job is surely not to take advantage, as either a photographer or as a viewer of the material, or in any other context. I personally didn't find his images to be a problem, but I certainly asked questions when I first saw his work back in the sixties and seventies. I still don't find a problem with the images, but if he "crossed the line" in his interactions with his subjects that is a very different matter, and then creepy is a wholly inadequate word.

There is nothing wrong with the human form in my opinion, clothed or otherwise, but how we react to it is a very different thing and our problem as responsible adults. Or otherwise. Sadly we seem to be discovering more and more individuals on the 'otherwise' side of things.

Perhaps we need to question the very nature of humanity, and what it means?

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

humans are self serving animals with one exception:
as adults most of us are hard wired to protect children whether there are laws or not.
Thats the way it is and thats the way it needs to be.
Can't remember all the requests i've received to take a series of shots of children; i
just turn them all down. not worth the risk.