Photo Sex: Fine Art Sexual Photography Comes of Age [Paperback]

David Steinberg (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2003

Photo Sex offers both an expanded vision of the nature of photography--that fine art photography legitimately includes the subject of unapologetic sex--and an expanded vision of the nature of sex--that sex involves more than sexual intercourse and its attendant foreplay, more than the pursuit of orgasm.

The premise is that each photo in the book is a sexual photograph in this sense. This, of course, begs the question, "What is sex?" a question that each person will answer differently. Photo Sex collectively offers the author/photographer's personal perspective on what is included in the sexual realm--a perspective which is fairly broad.

A wide audience for photography views sex in a more complex, subtle, and interesting way than commercial pornography can offer. This broad audience includes women as well as men, and people of all ages, ethnicities, and sexual orientations who are interested in exploring sex in depth, rather than reducing its complexity and wonder to cliches.

Photo Sex is inclusive in its choice of both subjects and subject matter, with images of middle-aged and older people as well as youth, of heavy people as well as thin, of people who represent a broad range of genders, ethnicities, sexual tastes, and sexual orientations. The photos confirm that all sorts of "ordinary" people are both sexy and sexual.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author, editor, and publisher Steinberg is a leading voice for sex-positive culture, a perspective which embraces and promotes open dialogue around human sexuality, and in his words, "a basic acceptance and appreciation of diverse sexual feeling and expression."

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Down There Press (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0940209326
• ISBN-13: 978-0940208322
• ASIN: 0940208326
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,143,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars But is it art?, October 21, 2003

By 

Michael Smith (Stamford, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Photo Sex: Fine Art Sexual Photography Comes of Age (Paperback)

This is a nice compilation of erotic photography from a number of photographers, but is it "fine art" as most folks define the term? I don't think so -- maybe "fine erotic art" would be a more accurate description. Many people will find many of the images pornographic rather than erotic, and a few of them disturbing. Which "few" depends on one's particular sexual preference, habits, experience, etc. -- mine will likely be different from yours. Whatever, this is a volume for lovers of graphic eroticism, not for those looking for "fine art" in the traditional sense -- fans of Roy Stuart or Eric Kroll should enjoy this book, although its images aren't as fetishistic as those photographers'. It's worth the price, if only to add to one's collection, but keep it away from children and folks wearing pacemakers.

One gripe: The reproduction of the images wasn't as good as it should be, with somewhat wishy-washy blacks and whites -- the overall impression of many of the pictures is gray, without the contrast and rich blacks of a true photograph. At the price of the book, I guess this is expected, since great printing costs money, but I was disappointed nevertheless.

Also, many of the images depict what middle-of-the-roaders would consider aberrant sexual activity, so if anything other than straight hetero encounters puts you off, shop for another book. On the other hand, it's obvious from the expressions of the participants that it's all in good fun.

I wouldn't buy this book again, but I didn't return it, either, for what that's worth.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Disturbingly Beautiful, September 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Photo Sex: Fine Art Sexual Photography Comes of Age (Paperback)

This book is full of disturbingly beautiful images. Some are erotic, as in--sexually stimulating to the viewer--whereas others are more broadly intriguing. Some images I find upsetting, or funny, or aesthetically evocative. My favorite photographs in the book are those that are full of mystery. If you are interested in the artistic side of sexual photography, or in looking at all sorts of people turning each other on in special ways, this book will tickle your eye bones and finger your mind.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sexual Photography as Fine Art, September 25, 2003

By 

"joewriter" (Santa Cruz, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Photo Sex: Fine Art Sexual Photography Comes of Age (Paperback)

David Steinberg has put together a collection of erotic photographs that, while exposing us to the many facets of the sexual world, moves sexual photography itself into the realm of fine art. Sometimes startling, sometimes breathtaking, sometimes bizarre, yet always absorbing, these photos will engage you through form, texture and substance. I believe that this book may well become the standard by which future fine art books of sexual photography will be measured.