How It Happened: Brief but Glorious History of Glamour Images
The art of Artistic Glamour Photography has come a long way from its very appearance to what we can see today. After countless changes and transformations, numerous revolutions and much controversy, glamour photography became what we can see today.
I will gladly take you on a short mind trip from the very dawn of Glamour Photos to their modern state – afterwards we will dabble in foreseeing their probable future.
Adolescence. Nobody really knows from where to begin the history of beauty photography genre. Some seek the roots in Paris of 1930’s, where so-called “french postcards” were sold in abundance – others deem Victorian photography and its gurus to be responsible. A few people consider that glamour photography can be traced as far back as Baroque and Renaissance art. To put it simply, the question of origin of glamour pictures is far from being answered. I prefer to consider that classic and contemporary fine arts contributed in equal measures to create this unique genre – and it is the melting pot of 1920’s culture that we owe its birth. We can clearly trace the classic glamour images beginning from the first half of the former century.
Brilliant 50’s and Beyond. The period that started with 50’s was perhaps the most successful – and hard – time for glamour photography. Famous Betty Grable was the queen of hearts before and after the war; in 1953 Marilyn Monroe emerged on Playboy’s cover and led glamour photography from darkness of controversy and public outrage into the light of recognition. There were also Pamela Green and others helping to bring this young art to its feet and conquer the world-wide audience.
Dawn of Digital Era. Glamour images not only acquired color as years went by – they also became more frivolous, imaginative and sometimes provocative. Hope Talmons and Dita Von Teese gave way to Heidie Van Horne, Bernie Dexter, Lucy Pinder and others. Additionally, digital format started dominating in photographic arts. It improved technical side of the process and altogether simplified it beyond measure. Everyone with a DSLR camera could become another glamour artist. Due to rapid development of Internet technologies, a swarm of “people with cameras” emerged, awaiting recognition.
3D – Death, Downfall, Decay? Finally, nowadays we face a new era, when 3D rendering easily re-creates that very glamour that we are so striving to deliver. 3D modeling is an art as well, and a complex one, but it seems to be taking over the field of glamour images. I strongly believe that no artificial computer rendering can ever excel the natural beauty and genuine work of a talented artist. If it is really a competition between old and new, I would like to remain on the side which has a beating heart, long hours of studio work and live relationship to it.
Never-the-less, I gaze in the future with a smile – after all, no art has ever been forgotten; oils and film have an army of admirers, as do many other genres. Artistic 3D may join these ranks, and so may whatever comes next. We don’t owe all the masterpieces to technology – we owe them to artists, their inspiration and their unique vision. No real photographer ever forgets this – and I’m sure that neither will you.
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