Jock Sturges is an American photographer known for his fine art photography of naturist families, adolescents, and their families. His work emphasizes the beauty and purity of the human body and the environments in which his subjects live. He mainly works with large-format cameras and focuses on capturing intimate moments and relationships with his subjects.
Born in New York City in 1947
Studied in the San Francisco Art Institute
Started working as a commercial photographer in New York City in the 1970s
Began photographing naturists in Northern California in the 1980s
Received both positive and negative criticism for his work in the 1990s
Continued to create and exhibit his work in the 2000s and 2010s
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A collection of black-and-white photographs of naturist families and adolescents, along with essays by photography critics and art historians.
A collection of black-and-white photographs taken during the late 1990s, including portraits of his subjects in both natural landscapes and indoor settings.
A retrospective of Sturges' work from the 1970s to the 2010s, including photographs of families, adolescents, and naturists, as well as landscapes and still lifes.
No. While some people may find his subject matter controversial, Sturges' work is not intended to be pornographic. He focuses on capturing the beauty and purity of the human body and relationships between his subjects.
Yes. In 1990, the FBI raided his studio and seized his photographic equipment and prints, citing concerns about child pornography. However, no charges were filed against Sturges and his work was ultimately determined to be legal and protected under the First Amendment.
Sturges mainly works with large-format film cameras and spends a lot of time getting to know his subjects before photographing them. He often takes multiple photographs of the same subject to capture different emotions and moments.
Some people may find Sturges' subject matter controversial due to its intimate and sometimes sexually suggestive nature. However, others view his work as a celebration of the human form and relationships between his subjects.
Sturges' work is exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, as well as in books and online. You can also visit his website to view and purchase prints of his work.