Critics and photographers bash Brooklyn Beckham for publishing a photo book
Jun 28, 2017
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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Brooklyn Beckham, the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, has his first photography book issued tomorrow. The 18-year-old (amateur) photographer hasn’t even signed the first copy yet, and the critics are already bashing him, the book and his work.
The book titled “What I See” will be released by Penguin Random House UK. And while the critics, professional photographers and one part of the public seem pretty furious about it, the publisher and Brooklyn’s fans try to defend him.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVopcMUjtsn/?taken-by=brooklynbeckham
Young Beckham was first on the strike of criticism when Burberry hired him to shoot their fashion/beauty campaign in 2016. At that time, fashion photographer Chris Floyd was one of the professionals who criticized Burberry’s choice, telling The Guardian that it devalued photography and “showed a lack of respect for hardworking, experienced professionals”. So it’s no wonder that the book wasn’t really received with approval either.
What I See is described as a series of snapshots of Brooklyn’s life. According to the book description, each chapter tells a different story. There are 300 images in the book, along with the captions that tell the story behind them. Arts Editor of i newspaper Alice Jones had a tweet about these photos and captions, which caused a lot of different reactions. She posted two photos of the book’s content, along with her comment that reads “Huge fan of Brooklyn Beckham’s terrible photographs and even worse captions.”
Huge fan of Brooklyn Beckham's terrible photographs and even worse captions pic.twitter.com/012PeCcED4
— Alice Jones (@alicevjones) June 23, 2017
A lot of comments followed, and they take different sides. There are many people who see this as injustice, claiming that only the family he was born in could bring Brooklyn the book deal. The others are on Beckham’s side, supporting his artistic development. Managing Director of Penguin Random House Children’s, Francesca Dow, defended the book and the author as well. She told The Independent “What I see is a book for teenagers, by a teenager, which gives Brooklyn’s fans broader insight into his world seen through his unique and creative perspective.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVP1o6uDBDG/?taken-by=brooklynbeckham
Just like someone is judging and someone is defending Brooklyn Beckham, my opinion about the whole situation is also two-sided. Frankly, I’m unimpressed by his photos, to say the least. I’m sure he’ll grow and develop as an artist, that’s not even an issue. But I don’t see his images as a book material just yet. And it seems unfair that so many better photographers will never get to publish a book because they weren’t born with the right last name.
But on the other hand, I can’t be too judgmental and I don’t feel bitter – because I try to put myself in his shoes. I don’t think being a child of a famous person (especially of two famous people) is all sunshine and roses. You have to do something to stand out and leave your parents’ shadow. And in his case, I’m sure it’s not easy. So even if his last name was the one to bring him the book deal, I hope he’ll be grateful for that. And I hope he’ll continue to take photos, hone his skills and find his spot in the world of photography – but as a photographer, not as a Beckham.
[via Resource Magazine, Artnet]
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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27 responses to “Critics and photographers bash Brooklyn Beckham for publishing a photo book”
nepotism. pure and simple
Without a doubt.
Everybody has to start somewhere. Yeah he got his book deal through his dad. But you’re judging him on his dad and not his photography. If your mom and dad were millionaires you wouldn’t even be posting on this link.
It was the name. Nothing else. It is stupid.
No! How can you say that?!?! He is such a talented motherf**er … aaaaa I mean photographer :)))) haha I love it when rich kids think they money can buy them anything :)) hahaha .. sooo funny!!!
And btw, how’s your book doing?
Good for him . Hope he improves and becomes a real talent
Amen to that. :) He’s very young, and if he remains passionate about photography, I’m sure he’ll improve a lot.
We all use what’s available to us to get ahead and there’s nothing wrong with that. If I wanted to start a career in photography and my Dad had some connections, I’d say “Hey Dad, you think you could help me get published?”.
Good luck to him. It’s a great start to a promising career.
……
Obviously.
I have only seen a little and so far it’s looking great!
So far, I think his images and words are great. I will buy the book.
It should said what I see thru a lens
I haven’t seen this much controversy since Duchamp!
Don’t buy it if you don’t like it.
If he felt the same way about his inherited (auto) exposure, he would’ve put the book out under an alias to prove to everyone that his art has value. He did not.
Cult of celebrity
It’s basic business. Penguin know this book will sell more copies than any by a well reputed photographer and as such they see profit. Hopefully he’ll develop into a very skilled photographer but this book has little to do with art and plenty to do with social media followings and profit. Burberry used him to access his followers, this is the same.
I think people commenting really nasty things should try therapy, it helps in some case of resentment
Free publicity can come from bad critics and reactions. Don’t like it? Don’t talk about it. The chances of a fan changing his/her mind are so low that it’s not worth your time.
Wait six months available in Poundland
“But on the other hand, I can’t be too judgmental and I don’t feel bitter
– because I try to put myself in his shoes. I don’t think being a child
of a famous person (especially of two famous people) is all
sunshine and roses. You have to do something to stand out and leave your
parents’ shadow. And in his case, I’m sure it’s not easy. So even if
his last name was the one to bring him the book deal, I hope he’ll be
grateful for that. And I hope he’ll continue to take photos, hone his
skills and find his spot in the world of photography – but as a
photographer, not as a Beckham.”
This closing paragraph is such a positive outlook on this terrible subject. It’s a free enterprise economy and people are free to dictate with their wallets and, in the grand scheme of things, there are more people out there with less talent who managed to fool huge groups of people to buy what they’re selling because of their family name.
he can do what he wants…there are plenty of established togs out there that have books out that I cant see why ;)
His 2 million + instagram followers may have had something to do with it – I suspect any photographer regardless of their name would get a book deal with those numbers ? just my thoughts.
Who cares! No one’s confusing his work for Ansel Adams, Gordon Parks, or Nigel Barker. He has a long way to go to be seen as a serious photographer. At least, we know he has plenty of room to improve!
“What I see is a book for teenagers, by a teenager, which gives
Brooklyn’s fans broader insight into his world seen through his unique
and creative perspective.”
The really problem is there, why he have fan? he never made something, except the Burberry shoots and this book.
The second problem, why let teenagers grow up with such awkward photography, instagram is enough.
” I don’t think being a child of a famous person (especially of two famous people) is all sunshine and roses.” Yeah agree but everybody have to work harder than the other for being sucessfull.