In some of these shots the models could pass for two of Degas’ painted ballerinas. In others they’re more akin to his bathing nudes; so artistically photographed is the series by David Hamilton, presented in the soft-focus style he famously pioneered.
Perhaps the most interesting thing is that Hamilton has been turning out this kind of work for years – decades even – and has oft been seen as controversial. But now that nudity in fashion has become so ingrained, so accepted, this work seems soft, inoffensive, and wholly artistic in comparison to much of what we see in other titles.
And in Hamilton’s own words,
A distinction must be made between eroticism and pornography; the media have blurred the disparity to an unforgivable degree. For those intelligent enough to recognize the difference, erotica will continue to hold a unique fascination.
This series appears in the spring 2011 issue of Soon International. View it in full by clicking on the thumbnails.
