Customer Reviews

The Last Day of Summer: Photographs by Jock Sturges

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This is a beautiful body of work that I am proud to have in my book collection. Beyond the fact that they are expertly executed, Sturges' photographs are intimate, direct, and above all, honest. They hide nothing, and in fact reveal much - about the subject, photographer, and the viewer. They reveal a level of trust and understanding between photographer and subject that I challenge anyone to find anywhere else. And this is a critical aspect of Sturges work. He does not haphazardly choose subjects, moving from place to place with no long-term interest in the people he photographs. Rather, he will photograph the same people in the same places year after year, photographing the same individuals summer after summer, essentially creating an intimate photographic chronology of a person that may span decades. He is close to his subjects. And unlike so many other photographers, he is truly interested in the lives of these people, and more importantly, the people themselves.

I find it unfortunate at best that Mr Sturges' work has so often been met with such hateful and often irrational opposition as it has. In my opinion, the controversy surrounding his photographs is wholly unwarranted. More often than not, the most violent objections come from (what I would call) religious extremists who claim to be speaking up in defense of his subjects, who they apparently feel have been exploited. A lot of the problem seems to stem directly from a willful refusal to distinguish between what is sexual and what is erotic. Sturges' work is sexual, yes, but it is not erotic. Sexuality is an inherent aspect of the human experience that can hardly be excluded in an honest image of a person. We are sexual from birth. And to find fault with Sturges' work because it doesn't deny this detail of humanity is a rather backwards way of looking at things. But regardless of what minor sexual element may be contained in his images, it is important to note that these images are not erotic. They are neither meant to be sexually arousing nor do they have that effect. If the contrary were the case, then maybe his biggest detractors might have a point, but in fact this is not how it is.

Sturges work is significant. And if you are willing to approach this or any other volume of his photographs with an open mind, I think you'll understand. The photographs and words contained herein are luminous and not likely to grow old with many goings-over. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

In "The Last Day of Summer," photographer Jock Sturges brilliantly attempts to capture the emerging, radiant beauty and sexuality of adolescence. Although most of his books have been derided as "child pornography" by certain conservative forces here in the U.S., they most certainly are not. To fully understand his work, one must not simply look at the pictures but delve into the many articles that accompany his art in his books. These girls and boys come to Jock, year after year, with their parents' consent (and their PARENTS even pose nude with their children in many of these images). This is the epitome of TRUST between subject and artist. This is not pornography. There is no sexual intimacy portrayed anywhere. It is a celebration of the beginnings of adolescnent life...a celebration of the beauty which Nature has given. It is a return to the sensual and beautiful works of the past. -JLC, Virginia

A slightly less than perfect monograph by one of my favorite artists.

Regarding the work itself, i've not seen any work that surpasses, and little enough that matches, the beauty Sturges portrays. His models are not chosen because they are exemplars of some cultural standard of beauty. They are not high-fashion, trendy, or striking in the ways most people are used to seeing.

They are simply ordinary people. The girls are unenhanced, average girls. No different from any other you may know. But therein lies their beauty. Sturges shows them with a warmth and intimacy borne of long aquaintance; capturing the inner beauty present in all (though hidden in most).

His models are comfortable with themselves and their surroundings; and show that comfort in their unashamed attitudes. They look at the camera, as they would look at one another, not hiding or embarrased; just being who they are. He shows them as humans beings, with their friends and families; rather than the iconic or archetypal abstractions that most photographers portray.

The images themselves are exquisite. There is a gradual smoothness to the tones that echoes the bodies of the models themselves. Lighting and contrast reproduce in the sand and water of the beach scenes the skin tones of the models -- so much so that the girls almost seem to meld with their environment. Both seem to glow in the early morning and late afternoon sun.

Unfortunately, my praise for the book is more reserved. The quality of the printing is excellent. Having seen the original prints in several gallery showings, the duotones in the book do a very good job of capturing the feel of the originals.

A few quibbles, however. The arrangement of the photographs in the book are not in the chronological order that Sturges originally intended; so the progression of his models from youth to adulthood is lost. Many of the images are spread across two pages, instead of being printed on one; which is results in a degradation of the quality of the image.

Sturges himself was not happy with the Aperture monographs (_Last Days of Summer_, _Radiant Identities_) for just this reason (as well as some other problems with the Aperture staff); and has re-released most of these images through Scalo.

Unfortunately, there are some images in this book and the other Aperture monograph which are not available in the Scalo release. I would recommend buying the Scalo book, titled _Jock Sturges_, to see the images as the artist intended; and the Aperture books for the additional images.

Jock Sturges creates images, not of nude adolescence, but of emotion, power, and beauty. He has captured generations with his camera, showing images from childhood to adulthood. More so, Jock has achieved what many photographers and arts cannot. He has attained that trust and opened up the emotion of his subjects. If one looks his subjects eyes and face, rather then just shallowly looking a "young nude child," you can see the real power of Jock's work

An absolutely beautiful book, with stunning photography. However, what is with all the hubbub about eroticism (Yes/No/Maybe)? After all, Sturges' approach is very different from Hamilton. No staged `sweeter than honey' pictures here, but true life. Nothing bad said about Hamilton's work, but that is something completely different.
Sure, there are pictures of nude young people and children. So what? If you get 'turned on' by that, that is something inside your mind. Some people might be turned on by sunflowers for all I care.
This book is truly about freedom: spiritual and physical freedom. It's about being at ease with oneself and one's environment. Jock Sturges has captured that in its most pure form, by depicting the bare innocence of unspoiled youth. Therefore, their nudity is self-explanatory.
If you understand that, buy the book, you'll love it! If you don't understand it, buy it anyway, and maybe you will learn a valuable lesson, if you can grasp the true essence of freedom and purity depicted here.
Or, if you will, leave all the psychology for what it is, and just enjoy the fabulous photography!
A must have!

These are some of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen.

Sturges has an incredible way of capturing his subjects. Not subjects, really, but collaborators, they are the people in front of the camera who help him make pictures.

The scenes with two or more people are the ones that hold my interest most closely. Parent and child, siblings or friends - there is so much more at work when I see the people together. There is contrast, or affection, or the young woman's later life shown in her mother. Some of the subjects themselves seem to evoke both the children they were and the adults that they will become.

I just have to say it again: these are incredibly beautiful pictures.

I was able to view this book at a time when I had just began my own photography and did not understand why so much of photo art was A: Nude, and B: Black and white. As I developed my first set of prints I realized that A: any clothed pose simply becomes a fashion show and B: color evokes a simple snapshot- black and white freezes moments of life into art. Nothing could better describe this book. A wonderfull and experienced look at beautiful forms by an artist who truly understands how to set aside the lens, the clothes, the film, and filters- and let the natural beauty of these subjects pour through.

I felt only two points of contention. The first was a hunger left by the excruciating clean forms of these images. I felt as if, though sated, I kept peeking behind the plate for perhaps one more sliced carrot. This is, though, also one of it's magnificent qualities. The other minor complaint being the tonality of the photographs. For the very distinguishing eye,! the photos are slightly darker and less contrasting than in other works where some of these images are also contained. However- this is offset by the size and availability of this collection. It simply wouldn't be possible to collect these images any other way.

Overall, an excellent book. One of the best in the field.

Some have suggested that this text reveals the "sin nature" of humanity. As a conservative, Christian, theologian I would argue just the opposite. The photographs contained in this text show nothing that is sexual or even sinful at all. What I see are excellent works of art that reveal the beauty of the human body (in all shapes, sizes and ages) as created by God.

While the text focuses primarily on the female form, Sturges looks at males and families as well. Overall a very nice work.

A few families have been given the gift of having their lives chronicled by a master photographer. Jock Sturges books chronicle the passage of time through the lives of several families, who are photographed naturally at a nature retreat in France. The lineage of the human family is at its most noble in these images of parents with their children, brothers with their sisters, families with friends... It is the soul of humanity and family that is depicted in Sturges' fine work, in a manner that (thanks to its nudity) is as timeless as the human spirit itself. Propagandistic attacks upon his work because of the natural nudity are, while perhaps honestly felt, are misplaced.

When The Last Day of Summer was released in 1993, many of us slapped our forehead and thought, why hadn't anyone thought of this before? (Maybe no one was capable--until now.) "This" being the tasteful and wholesome portrayal of female adolescent nudity in fine art photography. Prior efforts at nude photography of this segment of the population were at best, tasteless, and at worst, borderline illegal. Sturgis has ventured into that most vulnerable, yet often wronged age group and produced timeless images of youth that few will ever see first hand. That the subjects portrayed are, with their families, frequenters of the nude beach at Montalivet, France shows through in Sturgis' work; they are at home. No secret photo shoots here. The social context is the key. Many of the girls look transparently into the camera, revealing to us that even in their own nakedness, they are not afraid. Jock has shown us that girls are not mere objects, but rather living art molded by their Almighty Creator. Jock has earned his way into their lives, and for some readers, this candidness can be shocking. Combine this with his skill as a photographic craftsman, and this work stands above all others. Definitely a diamond in the rough.