Customer Reviews

Misty Dawn: Portrait of a Muse

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Originally assumed Sturges would be a bit of a pedophile, but none of this work (or his others) are obviously erotic. Rather these are family pictures, of gentle, casual nudity, just as so many great photogs did casual pictures of people in everyday life. Yes, the jaded can insert eroticism, but I found the pictures to be friendly, as I would approve (with care and caution) for my own daughters and sons. Sturges admits to a factor of eros, but that exists in mainstream magazines, films, etc., to a much greater extent because they are intentionally sexy, and try hard to become borderline porno. In Sturges' work I found no porn, no sexiness, no commercial push, just a pleasing image, as one would find a great artwork, a landscape, a fine wine. The beauty of young women, and I admit I'm smitten with Misty Dawn, is timeless, clothed or not. Along with Hamilton, I find Sturges' work calming, a reminder that there really is beauty in the world, not just the everyday ugliness (like Hollywood glamour). Real people, real beauty, real world. If you aren't comfortable with honest nudity, don't buy this art. I'm a man, and not at all ashamed of appreciating the opposite sex, as I have discovered they appreciate men and boys. Sex isn't dirty, and doesn't need to be pornographic to be enjoyed. Put in its proper place(thanks mom and dad), such as art, it can simply be appreciated for what it is. I like portraits, whether face or full body or in between, and these portraits are lovely. If your friends aren't dirty-minded, this is one of an assortment of great coffee table books.

Any one photo captures a person for one instant. This collection presents twenty-four years of the woman's life. Not just a model, Misty Dawn is Sturges's friend and inspiration. That friendship comes through clearly in this progression of photos. The earliest shows a solemn girl, maybe seven years old. Even then, she confronted the camera directly. That self-possession, plus a face with a strong beauty even then, remain constant throughout.

Later pictures show Misty Dawn growing through her coltish early teens, blossoming into young adulthood, and having children of her own. Since she comes from a naturist family, she most often appears wearing only her native charm. That lets the viewer trace each stage leading up to the full womanly beauty of the last pictures, probably around age thirty.

Other one-model collections exist, including some very good ones. They all present one stage of the model's life, though - just a few days or months of her life. Since this covers the large majority of the model's life, it offer a unique view, not just one moment, but all the passages she has experienced. But it doesn't just show Misty Dawn herself, it shows Sturges's view of her as a lifelong friend, and that adds immeasurably to this incredible montage.

-- wiredweird

Misty Dawn hasn't been one of my favorite models/subjects that Jock Sturges has used over the years, but I bought this book anway as I very much enjoy his photography and I've liked some pictures of Misty in the past.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes, pretty much. Would I reccomend it to other fans of Mr. Sturges? Yes. But am I particularly excited about it? Not so much. I liked his other new book "Life Time" (which was just released) much better and I highly recommend Sturges fans buy that one from Amazon as well (though Misty is only featured once in it).

I would like to see Jock devote another book to a single model, one found in "Life Time" named Adele. That I'd find more interesting.

About the pictures in this book, they're all up to his usual standard of excellence. If you're familiar with his past work and remember the picture of Misty Dawn and two other girls sitting behind a window with two panes of glass missing... you'll probably find it interesting (as I did) that he brings Misty and those two girls back to that very same window frame about 5 years after the original and once more about 5 or 6 years after the second.

If you're a fan of Misty Dawn, buy this book. If you're just a fan of Jock Sturges in general and collect his books, but you're on a tight budget and are trying to decide between this one and his other new book... buy "Life Time" first and save this one for later.

Excellent work focusing on Jock Sturges' photography of his true muse, Misty Dawn. The book features many images of Misty that have never been in the public eye, as well as the best of the images with which we are familiar. Following her life through Jock's first image in of her in 1983 through 2007, we get a much better feel for her personality and spirit. I'm glad Misty is getting the recognition she deserves. She is a modern-day Mona Lisa, and will live on in Jock's photographs for all time.

I have structured my response in the most honest way I possibly can - not concerning myself with what the left or the right thinks, the religious or the non-religious would have us believe, or what many of those in the "justice" system would seek to pervert and crucify for.

I have found that the more I study Jock's images of young girls, several things start to become apparent to me. First, by the mere presentation of these adolescents in predominately B&W format, and obviously not posed in some provocative fashion, immediately dismisses them from being pornographic in any way whatsoever. Any person of reason would have to readily admit that. His images force us to become comfortable in our own skin.

Some of the images can be erotic initially, (and I suppose to a certain element, very erotic) but only because of the culture in which we Americans were raised - that all people nude are perversions, and it is taboo for us to view them. But we all know that anything "taboo," or "off-limits" will only spark interest, not denial!

Little time passes before any initial reactions wear off however, and we begin to see inside these creatures - their innocence, their purity, their shining spirits - not yet tainted by the outside world and all of it's inequities and cancers.

I think that a review by "People Magazine" says it best: "...Sturges's people are grave, well-formed, and poetic. Best to think of his world as an inviting fiction: one photographer's Eden, where a little knowledge doesn't get you expelled from the garden[!]"

I sense that Jock's work gives us just a splinter of insight into the world that God intended ours to be... beautiful, peaceful, graceful, innocent, respectful, loving, forgiving, sensual, lasting, one of pure light.

If I were a female - like Misty Dawn - for example, I am quite sure that I would be most thankful and proud to be able to present such a wonderful chronicle of my life, and representation of my infinity, to my children one day, and to theirs, and on and on. What a beautiful, and priceless gift to be able to pass on.

And, what a beautiful expose for the rest of us to enjoy along with her!

Excellent book by an exceptional photographer. Delicacy, elegance and naturalness are the constants of the art of J. Sturges. A classic.

I should begin by saying I'm a fan of most of Jock Sturges' work. Some of his black and white pictures are just terrific, while others I don't quite get and his color work leaves me pretty cold. But when the day comes I can afford to purchase original photographs from any photographer, I intend to purchase several from Jock Sturges.

If you, too, are a Jock Sturges fan, you'll probably agree his choice of Misty Dawn as a subject was extremely wise. The good news is now you can have just about every picture of her he made in one book. I say "just about" because there is one picture I just love that he (or the editor) left out. (For that I deleted half a star.) The further good news is the book is printed to Aperture's high standard of quality (although one horizontal picture is printed on the page vertically, which looks like a mistake).

The bad news is the first half of the book works far, far better than the second half. The pictures are in chronological order (or at least appear to be) and for me, once Misty is married and posing with her husband, it's not so interesting any longer. He keeps revisiting the location with the window and shooting an updated version of the first picture. I have no interest in these only because I never quite understood the first version. (Second half of a star deleted.)

But the first half is great, for the most part. He has some terrific portaits. He has some lousy ones, too. But there are plenty other wonderful ones to make up for them.

Bottom line is: this book is worth adding to your collection.

Oh, here is a very sesitive portrait of an very special muse...don't miss this! The pix is so full of love....

Some of the images are breathtakingly beautiful and the quality of the reproductions and binding is excellent. I don't know of anything like this monumental work in the history of art or photography. It deserves to become a landmark and model for future photographers.

The model was a blue-eyed, blond-haired child who often appears magical. Although most famous for the nude portraits, some of the best are when her body is covered. The poses tend to be static, conveying a feeling of summer fatigue or a quiet rather than active child. I don't like the distorted perspective (elongated limbs and even enlarged facial features) in a few of the portraits, but many observers may not mind or even like that effect (apparently due to using a normal lens on a big camera close-up).

Nudity is a celebration of the whole body, and why not celebrate its growth and transformations in youth? The male has more external features to see, but the sudden appearance and relatively fast development of the female breast is a remarkable event to contemplate and witness. Now an adult, the model should write an autobiography describing her thoughts and experiences posing nude throughout her childhood. I think the information might be of even more value than the images. (The brief interview of Sally Mann's daughter and child model, Jessie, published in Aperture magazine was a step in that direction.) I also recommend the photographer's previous books, which contain more text.

A traditional mother recently told me that her two children used to look through the keyhole of the bathroom door to get a glimpse of each other naked. That may be (statistically) normal, but is it healthy? A naturist child like Misty Dawn would probably consider such behavior very strange if not ridiculous. Prohibitions against nudity in childhood promote rather than prevent sexual problems.

How fortunate we are to live in the West where we can enjoy books like this (despite the efforts of religious fanatics and other advocates of moral panic and mass hysteria who want to bring back the Inquisition) - thanks, in part, to the legal battles Jock Sturges has fought for all of us.

- Frank Adamo, author of "Girl Becomes Woman."