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Autobiography
Born in Berlin in 1920 to a wealthy Jewish family Helmut Newton was an overprotected child with no interest in school. At the age of twelve he purchased his first camera, beginning a fascination with photography that would eventually propel him to the heights of international celebrity. Barely eighteen when Kristallnacht tore Germany apart, Newton managed to escape the Naz
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Hardcover
,
320 pages
Published
September 16th 2003
by Nan A. Talese
(first published 2002)
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Community Reviews
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"I always keep some chains in the trunk of my car, since I never know who I might want to tie up." I'm paraphrasing a great story told to me by photographer George Holz, who assisted Helmut Newton. Newton is an all time great of photography. His work continues to be (mostly unsuccessfully) imitated. In this origin-story bio, Newton lays out where he came from, and how he arrived at his style. While he is doing what could be called erotic art, Newton is never pornographic - he's a model of restra
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great memoir, even if you are not into photography, but whose not?
Really enjoyed Newton's takes on life, photography, business, and people. He starts off describing his braty upbringing in a rich German Jewish family in Berlin. Being a weak boy, his parents signed him up for gym run by two spinster sisters. The one would push his legs when he lay on the floor in some odd exercise and he would fart in her face every time he could to try and get out of doing the exercise... hilarious. Clearly he describes his early obsession with women and his beginnings as a ph
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After reading this autobiography I understand the context of Newton's photographic aesthetic. His focus on sex and scandal was driven by his personality, which as a young man with a very European viewpoint was preoccupied with and very open about sexual freedoms.
My initial interest in reading about Newton's life was driven by the fact that he is a photographer, but I found myself more interested in the rest of his life (which is astounding in it's own right). His escapades involving women were ...more
My initial interest in reading about Newton's life was driven by the fact that he is a photographer, but I found myself more interested in the rest of his life (which is astounding in it's own right). His escapades involving women were ...more
FOR ME THIS BOOK IS FASANATING IN THAT HE IS SO HONEST IN SOME OF THE THINGS HE SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE HIS MOTHER SEEING ONE OF THEIR MAIDS LEAVING FOR HER DAY OFF (DRESSED AS WELL AS SHE) SO FIRED HER UPON HER RETURN BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT PEOPLE SHOULD STAY IN "THEIR PLACE". WHO WOULD ADMIT THAT? ALSO HOW SPOILED AND OBNOXIOUS HE WAS AS A CHILD BUT HOW REALLY THAT IS HOW HE GOT WHERE HE DID, BY NOT CHANGING REALLY.
ALSO IT IS ALWAYS AMAZING TO SEE HOW PEOPLE WERE AFFECTED BY HAVING TO FLEE EUROPE WHEN ...more
ALSO IT IS ALWAYS AMAZING TO SEE HOW PEOPLE WERE AFFECTED BY HAVING TO FLEE EUROPE WHEN ...more
Me encantó. La edición en español tiene varios errores (entre ellos, repiten un párrafo completo en el segundo capítulo) pero la traducción es buena y en ningún momento se lee como una versión separada de la original.
Newton no era literato pero explica bastante bien su vida, a pesar de algunas limitaciones del lenguaje. En parte es una novela erótica, porque el sexo fue una prioridad para el autor y su obra. La segunda parte, dedicada a su trabajo, es muy buena y explica algunas circunstancias a ...more
Newton no era literato pero explica bastante bien su vida, a pesar de algunas limitaciones del lenguaje. En parte es una novela erótica, porque el sexo fue una prioridad para el autor y su obra. La segunda parte, dedicada a su trabajo, es muy buena y explica algunas circunstancias a ...more
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This is very interesting autobiographical book,about selfish person and brilliant photographer,Who is working 24 hours a day to achieve his aim.And also interesting is how he is describing himself,without any borders or frames which may irritate some people. I like his manner of writting.it's very kind and sometimes shoking.He is using everything and everyone to create good image and he is saying that.Also interesting his perception of things and how he uses this percieved material in his photos
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I really enjoyed this book. I think it was really well written, and revealed Newton as a rather honest, down to earth person. I liked the fact that he actually is capable of admitting his weaknesses, and telling the world how he screwed up at times. I also admire his spirit - the transition from being a wealthy German teenager to a "nobody" in Singapore must have been pretty harsh. But what I admire the most is how he worked his butt off to reach his goal and make his dreams come true.
What a fascinating man! I truly appreciate the authors honesty. I can not recall ever reading a book that was this honest - I absolutely adored it.
The story of this book is so wonderful - what a great life, without being an arrogant ass or begging for fame like most these days. I found myself actually sad that I could not be a part of such a rich story or life.
Thank you for sharing the story of your life!
The story of this book is so wonderful - what a great life, without being an arrogant ass or begging for fame like most these days. I found myself actually sad that I could not be a part of such a rich story or life.
Thank you for sharing the story of your life!
i'm not usually big on biographies or autobiographies, but i've realized i really enjoy reading those of artists. they have a special way of storytelling and have THE most interesting lives. i mean...most of newton's photos are of naked ladies - you have to assume he's got some stories to tell.
Perhaps Newton deserved a more pretentiously literate, debauched, elegant, and exquisitely fluent ghost writer to do justice to his brilliant narrative mind? A terse, unsentimental, lean account of his career.
For anyone who loves fashion, photography or life and love, this book is a must read. Living through WWII as a jew, escaping, loving, living life and almost always care-free, that is Helmut Newton.
Mar 19, 2007
Alexander
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
lusty photographers
Shelves:
lame-but-true
Mr. Newton, what was the hardest thing about being interned during WWII?
There weren't any chicks at the camp.
There weren't any chicks at the camp.
Somewhat self-serving, somewhat overly crude, it's a decent view as to how Newton saw the world.
Total ego trip. Hilarious, horrible but extremely fascinating.
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Helmut Newton, born Helmut Neustädter was a German-Australian fashion photographer noted for his nude studies of women.
Born to a German-Jewish button-factory owner and an American mother, Newton attended the Heinrich-von-Treitschke-Realgymnasium and the American School in Berlin. Interested in photography from the age of twelve when he purchased his first camera, he worked for the German photograp ...more
More about Helmut Newton...
Born to a German-Jewish button-factory owner and an American mother, Newton attended the Heinrich-von-Treitschke-Realgymnasium and the American School in Berlin. Interested in photography from the age of twelve when he purchased his first camera, he worked for the German photograp ...more
