Customer Reviews

Soft

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

 

 

Kern has put together a very enjoyable collection of semi- and nude portraits. Before anyone tries to draw lines across the moral or artistic landscape, keep this book's introduction in mind. In it, Kern identifies himself as a pornographer and says that the staging of his photos makes them "fakes" (his word). That means it's OK to enjoy the erotic in these tasteful pictures, because it's been put there for the viewer's enjoyment.

That said, the eroticism is generally the kind that exists naturally in any beautiful young woman, and just about all young women embody some kind of beauty. And, despite the claim of "fakery," these the models are presented in a much more natural way than in work by lots of other photographers. Their skin is allowed to have dots, veins, texture, and that lovely delicate down. Those things make the model unique and human, not just another polyethylene stereotype. The models keep their body hair, if they want to, or don't - there's no standard look that each one is forced into. There are lots of lingerie shots among these pictures, but it's generally the everyday kind: practical underwear, not photographic props and toys. Somehow, that adds familiarity and an honest kind of intimacy to the pictures. Some of these pictures are a little raw, too. I don't mean crude (except once or twice) or hard-core, just not softened by drippy romantic convention.

My only criticism is that the models all match a too-familiar profile: European features and coloring, twenty-ish but selected for a younger appearance, and slender. They are all lovely even if they don't match the runway model look, or because they don't. The problem is that there are lots of other ways to be beautiful, too, and I miss them when they don't appear in collections like these. That's only a mild criticism, though, because this really is an enjoyable set of pictures.

//wiredweird

After reading the interview with Mr. Kern at the beginning of this book, I felt like I was able to get some sense of the man. I understand a little bit about his history and development as an artist. But, in point of fact, this is the first time I've seen Kern's work. And, though I think I understand why he calls this collection Soft, I don't think that word accurately describes most of this work. Gritty, I would think is more accurate. Harsh.

That is not to say that there aren't some images he that I really enjoyed. "Sarah's purple top," "Vicci's skirt," "Kaori in bed," "Laura's backside in shower," and "Morning coffee" I all felt hit just the right note: the stark, unfilteredness that Kern captures in most of his images combined with that sense of softness you expect from the title. There is no doubt Mr. Kern has talent.

Unfortunately, most of these images did not effect me in a positive way. I'm not against art that makes the viewer feel uncomfortable or dirty but, when I do get that reaction, I also like to feel that I've come through the experience having gained something. Insight, at least. With many of these pictures, I didn't see their meaning and I didn't see their beauty and I was left feeling empty. If that was Mr. Kern's purpose, then he succeeded. But that's not what I want from photography.

Soft has some great photos and some not great ones. Some are just weird, like a nude woman with a bloody nose. Others are merky and out of focus. Some are well done. Kern's work is just hit and misses.

It takes guts to put out a book of erotic photos with the title "Soft" but like Richard's other books, this one will not disappoint. The book is filled with natural expressions and voyeuristic photos and the models are all NATURAL! If you are giving this book 3 or less stars, you're probably into the fake silicone girls the fill the pages of Playboy & Penthouse from 1980 on.

Richard Kern has put together, in "Soft," a creditable book of color nude photography. I personally think Black & White photography of young female nudes is more erotic, but classical eroticism is not exactly what Kern is aiming for. Kern's photos instead are indeed "soft" porn, or pornography. That's not to say that it's not good work. It's been said that pornography is in the eye of the beholder, anyway. So maybe Kern's book is what you've been looking for. The girls are "average," not rare beauties. They remind me of the girls most of us fooled around with in high school, since we all couldn't get "the cream of the crop." Depending on who you are, this book should give you some pleasant reminiscences. It's a fun book.

I purchased this book after a glowing review from a Men's magazine. It is quality art of atypical women doing the mundane daily routine. It is interesting but did not evoke any real emotion from me.

Kern is Kern is Kern! He can take the real "now" in one pix, whithout any kind of pretentiousness...naked and direct! Yes, it's soft!