Newton Helmut: biography, photo

The outstanding artist Helmut Newton, whose photographs were published in the best glossy magazines and stored in the collections of many museums around the world, created a special, recognizable style that changed the notions of beauty and sexuality.

Childhood and family

October 31, 1929 in a suburb of Berlin, in a wealthy family, a boy was born, who was named Helmut. His mother, Clara Marquis, was the owner of a factory for making buckles and buttons, which she got from her first husband, from this marriage she had Hans's son. Her second husband was the Polish Jew Max Neusteder, he ran the factory. The family lived in prosperity, Helmut remembers that he adored his mother, who became for him the ideal of feminine beauty. He remembers that already in 3-4 years, with great pleasure, he watched the half-dressed women dressing in front of the mirror: mother and nurse. Apparently, even then, this infinite interest in the female body appeared in him, which gave him an aesthetic pleasure.

Unfortunately, a happy life was soon over, in Germany the oppression of Jews began. Parents transferred Helmut to an American school to save him from humiliation.

At the age of 12, the boy had a passion for photography, he saved up money and bought his first camera. He tried to test it in the subway, the last shots were given to the Berlin radio tower. When the film was shown, then it turned out to be only one blurred image of the tower. Helmut Newton joked that it was then that he realized that he was waiting for the worldwide fame of the photographer. At the age of 16 he began attending the school of photographer Moses Iva, where he studied for 2 years, mastering all the basic skills of a photographer.

In 1938, the mass persecution of the Jews began, his mentor, Yves, was taken to Auschwitz, where she was no longer destined to return. Father Hellmuth was also sent to the camp, the mother made a lot of effort and money to rescue her husband. Newton Helmut recalled that when he met his father, he did not recognize him, he was a deep old man. Mother begged her son to leave Germany in order to be saved. In 1938, he leaves the country, he will no longer be able to see his parents. He said that he was not at all worried about the fate of the country, but he missed home and parents very much.

Emigration and a new name

First, Newton Helmut wandered for a long time in Europe and Asia, working for anyone, even a journalist, then goes to Singapore, but in 1940 he was sent to Australia. Here he had to experience many privations, he was a laborer, cleaned toilets, collected peaches, then he was mobilized, in the army he worked as a driver and a worker at a cement plant.

In 1946, he was demobilized, and he had the opportunity to obtain an Australian passport. Newton Helmut - so decided to call himself a man dreaming of world fame. He still did not give up hope of becoming a famous photographer.

The beginning of the path to the dream

In 1946 Helmut Newton in Australian Melbourne , whose biography is now permanently connected exclusively with photography, opens a small studio: he makes portraits, takes off weddings, tries to make a living. At this time he met with June Brown, actress and model, later she became not only Newton's assistant, but also his wife.

In 1950, Newton manages to get the first orders for a photo for advertising, it was the way to fame and earnings. In 1953 the first exhibition of works by Helmut takes place. In 1956, the photographer was invited to work in the Australian Vogue. Newton works very hard, continues to shoot ads and models for a glossy magazine.

In 1957, he signed a contract for a year with English Vogue and he and his wife traveled to London. This year showed that Newton has his own style, but he is too provocative and provocative for Vogue. When the contract was over, Hellmuth did not renew it, he had other plans.

Years of Labor

In 1958, Newton Helmut and his wife went to Paris. Needing orders, the photographer takes up shooting for many magazines, this is Australian, and French Vogue, Queen. The editor of French Vogue was indignant that the photographer allows himself to work with their competitors, for some time he is not given orders here. But for 8 years of work in Europe Helmut Newton earned a certain fame, his style is becoming more in demand, and in 1966 he was offered to return to the Parisian Vogue. At the same time he was invited to the American branch of this magazine, he worked there for several years, but fruitful cooperation did not work, and the photographer returned to Paris, where he received a permanent place as a Vogue artist.

Recognition and glory

The mid-sixties is the time of the growing popularity of Helmut Newton. He is ordered to cover fashion shows, he removes the plot works for glossy magazines, portraits of movie stars. In 1968, he was shooting a series of "Twins", in which he uses mannequins, this device will for some time become his trademark.

In 1971, Newton suffers a stroke, this radically changes his attitude, his work leaves cheerfulness and lightness, they become more profound, philosophical. At this time, photo art acquires a new creator, with a pronounced style, it's Helmut Newton, high photography has become his main achievement and the cause of life. His creative method of art is called "pornographic chic," the theme of his work is sexuality and aggression, these two deep-seated inclinations of man occupy Newton, and he comprehends them in various angles. In his pictures, you can often see women in collars, with whips, in shocking poses, in blood, and always these are pictures bordering on limits of propriety. Newton - an artist who carefully built the composition of the frame, for a long time selected models, clothes and objects for filming.

Happy Times

Since the 80s for Newton, the most fruitful and creative period of life begins. The photographer cooperates with the best magazines and fashion houses, he is posed by all the stars of the world. He removes a lot of Elizabeth Taylor, Twiggy, Catherine Deneuve, Andy Warhol, Sting, Sophia Loren, Monica Bellucci, David Bowie, Julia Roberts. In 1986 he was invited to make a portrait of Salvador Dali. In 1991, he makes a famous portrait of Margaret Thatcher. In the 2000s, Helmut Newton organized several retrospective exhibitions, one of which takes place in Moscow. He is going to start his own fund to help young photographers.

Special achievements and awards

If there are icons in photo art, then one of them is Helmut Newton, whose photo is now considered an honor to host the best editions and photo galleries. During his life he received countless awards, and he was awarded orders of the states of Monaco, Germany and France.

For his life, the artist has prepared 8 albums with photographs that reflected his revolutionary view of fashion and the woman.

In 2000, he gave his native Berlin 1000 images, which became a unique collection. In it are portraits of all leading models and stars of the second half of the 20th century.

Sad final and life after death

There are not so many legendary names in the history of photography, and one of them is Helmut Newton. Photographs of the artist today are a collector's item, they are reprinted in the form of albums, novice photographers are learning from them.

In 2004, the photographer left the parking lot, but could not cope with the control of the car and crashed into the wall, an hour after the accident the artist passed away. After his death in Berlin, the museum opened Helmut Newton. Two large photo albums were published. The fund of his name was opened. The history of photography is forever inscribed with the name of this original artist, who was able to show the world the soul of a woman and change the notion of sexuality.