David Hamilton

David Hamilton (1933-2016) was a British photographer and film director known for his soft focus, grainy style of photography. He was born in London, England on April 15th, 1933.

Hamilton began his career as a commercial photographer in the 1960s, shooting fashion and advertising campaigns for clients such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. His work was characterized by its dreamy, romantic aesthetic and often featured young women in natural settings.

In the 1970s, Hamilton began to focus more on fine art photography and published several books of his work. His most famous book is "The Age of Innocence" (1975), which featured nude images of young girls aged between 10 and 15 years old. The book caused controversy due to its subject matter but also gained critical acclaim for its artistic merit.

In the 1980s, Hamilton moved into filmmaking with his first feature film "Bilitis" (1977). The film was a coming-of-age story about a young girl's sexual awakening and featured many of Hamilton's signature photographic techniques. He went on to direct several other films including "Justine" (1979) and "The Perfume of the Lady in Black" (1984).

Throughout his career, Hamilton continued to produce photographic works that explored themes of innocence, beauty, and sexuality. His work has been exhibited in galleries around the world including the National Portrait Gallery in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

David Hamilton passed away on November 25th 2016 at the age of 83 after suffering from a long illness. He left behind an impressive body of work that continues to inspire photographers today.