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JohnE · 02-08-2013, 07:13 PM

I just had to laugh from something Holly Randall said. Its so true. For many photographers who had to go head to head with Stephan's work- I mean shooting the same model either before or after he shot her- then comparing it to our own, usually in shame, for what he was able to capture: the natural beauty, sexuality, the colors and poses he was able to pull from the same girl- was a regular occurrence. Getting bested by Stephan Hicks was just part of industry. It made us not only envious of his talents but also pushed us to be better photographers ourselves.

There are some very nice things said here about Stephan personally. But his work was the pace car for the nude photographer. He didn't set the bar. The bar he set was very often out of reach. But I was glad it was there and Ill miss it now its gone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mutt

Nice and true words from Holly Randall

"Today I learned some incredibly sad news- that J Stephen Hicks, a legend in his own right, passed away. Hicks was a photographer from my mother?s generation, renowned for his glamour work and published alongside my mother in magazines such a Penthouse, Club, and Hustler. He went to school at Brooks Institute of Photography, a school I attended myself a few decades later.

You could always pick a Hicks photo out from the crowd- he was a master at harnessing natural light. While I sometimes feel like I?m at war with the sun, Stephen manipulated and seduced it to a point where it seemed to bend to his will. There were many times I?d look at his photos and think ?How on earth did he light it like that?? And then I?d see a BTS photo of the setup and I?d think ?How on earth did he light it with what appears to be such a simple set-up?? It was obvious that Stephen was a master of his craft.

The models loved him. I always heard wonderful things about Hicks and his team: how much fun they were to work with, how they treated their models with respect and kindness- how they bbq?d for their models on set and then all jumped in the pool after the day had wrapped. It always seemed like it was a party to work with the people at Digital Desire.

When people ask me who my biggest competitor is, without hesitation it has always been Stephen Hicks. There?s no denying that we competed over models, over magazine layouts, over jobs and over website members. But I say that with the utmost respect- and I?m not ashamed to say that Hicks beat me at the game many, many times. He had a knack for discovering unknown beauties first, and his work is extremely marketable. He kept his sets and outfits simple, his lighting sometimes moody, sometimes light and airy, but it was always beautiful. His attention to detail was impeccable- if a girl had a thick waist, or a bad boob job, you?d never know if you saw her photos on Digital Desire. There were a few times I booked a model off of photos that Hicks had taken of her, only to have her walk in and look nothing like the bombshell in her photos. Those were the times that I secretly cursed his talent. ;)

Hicks was a true artist. He was able to create photos (and video) that walked that precarious line between graphic and artistic, creating real erotic art. That is a goal many strive for, but few fail to achieve. The passion he had for his job is evident in his massive body of work.

I have only met Hicks once, but I know his team: JP, Jay Allan, Charles Lightfoot, and Mark Lit. They are all wonderful guys and I know had a great deal of respect for their mentor. My heart goes out to them as I can only imagine how much they are grieving right now. I also send my deepest condolences to Stephen?s family.

The world had lost a great artist. In the business world, J Stephen Hicks may have been my competitor, but in reality I am also one of his greatest fans. May he rest in peace."