The Young, the Mature and the Old: What Happened to and What Awaits Glamour Images
As a prominent artistic school, Glamour Photography has been altered dramatically through the past years; knowledge of what happened to it earlier can give us the clue of what awaits glamour images in the future. Beauty photography has seen a number of downfalls and artistic revolutions before it achieved its modern condition.
I will gladly take you on a short mind trip from the very dawn of Glamour Photographs to their modern state – afterwards we will dabble in foreseeing their probable future.
Early Years. It is a very controversial issue of where the history of glamour photography really begins. 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. Some think that cultural foundation and inspiration for glamour pictures lies in XVI and XVIII centuries. So, to be honest, glamour photography is a really a child of uncertain origin. 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. It is from the first half of twentieth century that we can finally gasp distinguishable and credible information about glamour photo.
Zenith of Glory and Later. Those were difficult but glorious years. Betty Grable conquered the hearts of the audience before the war started, and remained one of the prominent figures in glamour photo ever since; 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. Glamour pictures became more and more popular, as Pamela Green and others helped this young but prospective genre to become widely recognized.
Nowadays – Digital Fever. Color wasn’t the only achievement that glamour images acquired – they turned into something more creative and provocative. Dita von Teese and Hope Talmons gained young and ambitious competitors like Heidie Van Horne, Lucy Pinder, Bernie Dexter and others. Additionally, digital format started dominating in photographic arts. Technical progress improved the visual quality of glamour pictures and made the process of shooting dead simple. An amateur in possession of DSLR could potentially become a glamour photographer. Combined with World Wide Web, a real army of both gifted artists and usual dabblers emerged in the online world.
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. This new form of art attempts to challenge the canons of glamour photography. I really doubt that 3D-rendered beauty can better the genuinely beautiful model and a talented artist cannot be matched by a PC. If this is a struggle of old and modern, my side is with the former.
The future, however, is bright – despite everything, oil, film and digital live on and remain popular. Artistic 3D may join these ranks, and so may whatever comes next. It is not technology that is behind each glamour picture – it’s the soul, the inspiration and the dedication: that of photographer and the model. No real photographer ever forgets this – and I’m sure that neither will you.