Buying Photography Books frpm Overseas

[Belleforte]

Anyone know if there are any regulations in Singapore regarding the buying of books from overseas, ie Photography Books with nudities (not porn, not XXX)? I have bought some good books such as David Hamilton's 'Age of Innocence' from Amazon.com without any problems. Just want to know if there are any official rules and regulations concerning nudities in photographic books here. There is a very limited collection of such books in local bookstores.

[Belleforte]

any contributions

[Parchiao]

I don't think that it should be a problem. Such books are normally classified as artistic in nature, and the nature of the content in the book will prove it to be so. As you have mentioned, such books are already available in the local bookstores, so why not another book via Amazon that has similar themes?

[RuthBaby]

i order from acma books
cheap n gd!

[Sony717]

as long as the packaging no say anything like PLAYBOY, penthouse, HOOTERS.....no problem.

[Belleforte]

There are many titles that you can't get locally. Acma Books is very limited. You get almost anything in world (English publication) from Amazon. Jeff Bezo don't call his creation Amazon for nothing. Only problem is the shipping cost.

[Ansel]

Quote: Originally posted by Belleforte There are many titles that you can't get locally. Acma Books is very limited. You get almost anything in world (English publication) from Amazon. Jeff Bezo don't call his creation Amazon for nothing. Only problem is the shipping cost.

Actually I have seen MPH or Times selling David Hamilton's age of innocence and Dreams of a Young Woman some years back. For those who don't know Hamilton's photography, he likes to take pictures of young girls in the nude, portrayed in a very dreamy, softfocused manner. I think as long as it is strictly photopraphy and artistic, even if there's nudity, is not a problem. Like I mentioned, some bookstores even display them in the open shelves.

Just an aside, I think Singapore is the only developed country in the world where the government think you are old enough to learn how to shoot and kill people (18 years old in NS) but you are still too young to look at a naked woman in the cinema (R(A) only for 21 and above).

[Belleforte]

If you are into David Hamilton kind of style, check out www.domai.com.

I fully agree with your point on media censorship in Singapore. Fortunately, things are improving now. At least, you get to watch R(A) movies after learning how to handle an M16 (do they still use M16s in SAF???).

[limhousen]

Yes.....David Hamilton. A number of large chain bookstores in America withdrew his books from their shelves when he was investigated for child pornography.

He follows the lives of nudist families over many years and takes pictures of young girls as the blossom. There was quite a big outcry and debate over whether his photos constitutes as child pornography. There's even a journal paper discussing the phsycology and motivations behind the pictures.

[Belleforte]

Depends on how you look at it actually. I do find the use of very young teenage girls in his photos rather disturbing (although there are usually nothing too explicit in his shots). That aside, I really admire his very poetic photography style. In 'A Place in the Sun', there are lots of beautiful shots of beaches, flowers and buildings.

I just hope that he uses older women to make me feel less guilty in looking at his works.

[limhousen]

Yes I agree. His work is technically strong. Really can feel the mood in the pictures. I am especially impressed by the expressions he manages to capture. Extremely natural and uncontrived. Maybe children are less self concious and natural in front of the camera. But a high level of competency is still required to create those shots.