Why shoot nude?

karmagarda

karmagarda

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Conor
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And no, I don't mean take yer cacks off before taking photos! I'm curious as to the advantages or attraction to shooting nude models.

Ok, let's get rid of the obvious... fair enough, we are all partial to image of the opposite sex nude, or the same sex if you are gay, and this is regardless of whether we are male or female etc etc etc. But I'm not on about the sexual side of it. I'm wondering about this solely from a photography or artistic perspective. If you had the choice to shoot nude or clothed which would you choose? And why?

I have my own thoughts on the answers I might get... but I'm going to leave this open ended to prevent influencing others opinions

Kgo...
 
Same reason why people pain nudes.

The human body is an art, we are all different and curiousity and natural desire plays a part.
 
I think there's going to be an argument towards the smooth curves of the female form.
 
Personally I'd prefer to take a photo of someone clothed, but that's because I think someone's clothes are part of their individual look. I think that without clothes people just look... The same!
 
Nude, implied nude or clothed, I can see the benefit of them all.

Keep trying to convince hubby to model for me nude but he's having none of it :(

The human form is beautiful and I find it most beautiful when it's different to the norm - we don't all look the same and the more differences there are, the more unique we are.
 
I'm just one of these folk who can't see what all the fuss is about over a naked body. Perhaps I'm just weird?
 
I love shooting nudes :)

I grew up playing a lot of sport and nakedness in our dressing room was a refreshing change from hundreds of girls at school attempting to change clothes within the confines of a towel so I suppose I had more exposure (pardon the pun) to nakedness of my own sex at a youngish age. So I'm not really bothered by nakedness and I like being able to put a naked human in places where they either should be (landscape and nature type shots) or where they are unusual, like a cityscape :)

I have a couple of ideas for series of nudes that I want to shoot but I really need the right variety of models to do it and I've not got round to looking properly yet.

One I'd really like to do is a sculpture called the Jelly Bean in Manchester. It's a huge lump of granite shaped like a jelly bean near the Arena and it's just crying out for a nude on it!

I'm interested that an artist shot a large nude at the weekend here in Manchester, he placed hundreds of disrobed people in a park in Salford. Funny that none of them were arrested ;)
 
AliB said:
I'm interested that an artist shot a large nude at the weekend here in Manchester, he placed hundreds of disrobed people in a park in Salford.
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I was watching that on the news last night.
I don't normally like "people shots", but there was something really fascinating about that.
I suppose the complete incongruity of it and the fact that there were so many bodies forming shapes and designs, rather than just focusing on a single person.

As to Conor's opening question, I suppose it depends what you're trying to convey in the image.
Some things lend themselves more to clothed models and others to nudes. What I really don't like is seeing the use of nudes for some sort of "shock factor" or just because "you can".
 
Some interesting answers so far!

trencheel303 said:
Personally I'd prefer to take a photo of someone clothed, but that's because I think someone's clothes are part of their individual look. I think that without clothes people just look... The same!
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trencheel303 said:
I'm just one of these folk who can't see what all the fuss is about over a naked body. Perhaps I'm just weird?
Click to expand...

That's an interesting point. I do somewhat buy into this idea myself too, but not the fact they all look the same. Individuality is very more about clothing. But... what about tatoos? Piercings? Now this is where it can also get interesting, and more individual as well.

You're second question is even more interesting in that you ask what all the fuss about is over a naked body. I could throw that on it's head and say, well clothes are very much a human/social requirement we've put upon ourselves. For me it's done 2 things, it's made us more aware of nudity and the "need" to cover our "private" parts. They are only private because we chose to make them so. Clothes probably were originally worn years ago for warmth, and now they have morphed into a multitude of uses, the other being, as you mentioned, individuality. I like this though, because it makes nudity more intriguing and sometimes even controversial.

MagicMynx said:
Nude, implied nude or clothed, I can see the benefit of them all.

Keep trying to convince hubby to model for me nude but he's having none of it :(

The human form is beautiful and I find it most beautiful when it's different to the norm - we don't all look the same and the more differences there are, the more unique we are.
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Keep at your hubby! He might cave in yet :lol:. I completely agree with this too.

Jayst84 said:
Why shoot motorcars, or drops of oil?

The nude has to have more history than most photographic subjects. There are thousands of books and dissertations written on the subject.
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Very very interesting point. I never actually thought of it like this. And it's so obvious when you do think about it. There are so many paintings and sculpures of nudes going back centuries etc that it's probably one the oldest forms of art.

Kerioak said:
I think I prefer clothed - most bodies do look better covered up at least to some degree and there is a lot less post processing to get that "perfect" look that seems to be essential for naked skin which makes the final image artifical anyway so it might as well have remained clothed
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Very good point. That would probably be a reason I would choose clothed over nude as well.

AliB said:
I love shooting nudes :)

I grew up playing a lot of sport and nakedness in our dressing room was a refreshing change from hundreds of girls at school attempting to change clothes within the confines of a towel so I suppose I had more exposure (pardon the pun) to nakedness of my own sex at a youngish age. So I'm not really bothered by nakedness and I like being able to put a naked human in places where they either should be (landscape and nature type shots) or where they are unusual, like a cityscape :)

I have a couple of ideas for series of nudes that I want to shoot but I really need the right variety of models to do it and I've not got round to looking properly yet.

One I'd really like to do is a sculpture called the Jelly Bean in Manchester. It's a huge lump of granite shaped like a jelly bean near the Arena and it's just crying out for a nude on it!

I'm interested that an artist shot a large nude at the weekend here in Manchester, he placed hundreds of disrobed people in a park in Salford. Funny that none of them were arrested ;)
Click to expand...

This is something else I subscribe to. Some day I would love to shoot nudes, but my reason is subscribing to the more controversial side. I.e. shooting nudes where they shouldn't be. One very interesting and clever shoot was by Andy Craddock who shot the erotic photos in a church. Who ever heard of him before that?!?! My ideas aren't quite that type of location, but I'll see if I ever get around to them. I need to find normal models to practice standard portraid and lighting first. Then I can tackle the meatier stuff!
 
SarahLee said:
I was watching that on the news last night.
I don't normally like "people shots", but there was something really fascinating about that.
I suppose the complete incongruity of it and the fact that there were so many bodies forming shapes and designs, rather than just focusing on a single person.

As to Conor's opening question, I suppose it depends what you're trying to convey in the image.
Some things lend themselves more to clothed models and others to nudes. What I really don't like is seeing the use of nudes for some sort of "shock factor" or just because "you can".
Click to expand...

I saw some of that too. Was trying to fix my PC though so didn't really pay as much attention as I wanted to. Looked interesting though.

In regards to shock factor, it depends on what the photographer is trying to achieve. I don't like anything violent (or simulating pain/violence etc) but I do like controversial. For me one of my favourite photos is the girl in a shopping trolley by Rankin.
 
Well, certainly for the female body it's all about curves, everywhere you look on a woman is curves, from the obvious boobs and bum, to the small of the back, the hips, the calfs, the thighs.Also lighting plays a big part and a subtly lit hint of sexuality is excellant, imho.
 
Nudes are probably the oldest "people art" there is.
Almost certainly drawing and sculpting preceded clothing.
It was certainly easier than drawing some one covered in animal skins.
The tradition stuck.
 
I've not done a massive amount of nude shooting but I've really enjoyed it and it's made me think hard about poses and light... probably more so than when I'm simply shooting a model.

I did my first male nude last night and it was actually easier than I thought... After the initial settling-in shots, I found it to be quite enjoyable and we got some good shots. From a bloke's perspective, I find it easier to appreciate female curves and found it a bit harder to get a pleasing pose from a fella... :)

Si
 
Arkady said:
Why shoot female nudes...? Why wouldn't you...?
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I have no answer for that! But you've avoided the question :lol:. I obviously like the female body and would love to photograph it for that reason alone. But... from a photography perspective why shoot nude?
 
Same reasons as we sketch, draw or paint female nudes...they look good.
 
My wife would go mad if I told her I was shooting nude models. She wasn't that happy when came in and said I had a dance with one. I tried to explain that I wasn't dancing it was just her....I just sat there and done nothing!
Can't see why she was so mad?
 
FLANNERS said:
My wife would go mad if I told her I was shooting nude models. She wasn't that happy when came in and said I had a dance with one. I tried to explain that I wasn't dancing it was just her....I just sat there and done nothing!
Can't see why she was so mad?
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Because wives and GFs assume that because they find you attractive, so does every other female out there...
They also assume that all photographers and painters sleep with their models and that all models are desperate to snag a photographer...

Why a fit, attractive 19 or 20 year-old would want a slightly saggy bloke in his mid-40's is beyond me though...:cuckoo:

Basic female insecurity at work...
 
to me there only two types of nude photography and there is no fine line...it is either1. full blown porn or 2. art. (erotic,glam, semi, etc...all art). Simple.
 
Arkady said:
Same reasons as we sketch, draw or paint female nudes...they look good.
Click to expand...

I agree this is one of the main reasons for the majority of nude photography, glamour, boudoir, etc. I have just started a project including nude photography. There is no flattering lighting, airbrushing, etc as the theme is "vulnerability". I think nude is one of the most powerful forms of photography.......possibly excluding the Juggs-esque form.:D
 
Arkady said:
...Why a fit, attractive 19 or 20 year-old would want a slightly saggy bloke in his mid-40's is beyond me though...:cuckoo:

Basic female insecurity at work...
Click to expand...

Hiya Rob,

My missus is 20... And I'm 41! :D
 
because people look better naked than with skimpy clothes for certain shots. not all nude photography is good in fact quite a lot I see it just appears to be a nude woman stretched out for no reason. I shoot both but it depends on the type of shot you are going for.


karmagarda said:
And no, I don't mean take yer cacks off before taking photos! I'm curious as to the advantages or attraction to shooting nude models.

Ok, let's get rid of the obvious... fair enough, we are all partial to image of the opposite sex nude, or the same sex if you are gay, and this is regardless of whether we are male or female etc etc etc. But I'm not on about the sexual side of it. I'm wondering about this solely from a photography or artistic perspective. If you had the choice to shoot nude or clothed which would you choose? And why?

I have my own thoughts on the answers I might get... but I'm going to leave this open ended to prevent influencing others opinions

Kgo...
Click to expand...
 
Keep trying to convince the girlfriend to let me do some nude shots of her..just need to get a real good wide angle lens.:D
 
Arkady said:
Because wives and GFs assume that because they find you attractive, so does every other female out there...
They also assume that all photographers and painters sleep with their models and that all models are desperate to snag a photographer...

Why a fit, attractive 19 or 20 year-old would want a slightly saggy bloke in his mid-40's is beyond me though...:cuckoo:

Basic female insecurity at work...
Click to expand...

I don't think this is the case, ref thinking the model will find your partner attractive, it is far more, in my experience, that partners think as a photographer you're getting a sexual thrill from photographiing the person.
Which is not helped when photographers on this forum ask questions like 'what should I do when I get 'aroused' while photographing a female model'. Just makes you feel a bit 'eeeeuuuuuwwww'.
Well, makes me feel a bit 'eeeuuuwww' anyway :lol:

A
 
Headless Lois said:
I don't think this is the case, ref thinking the model will find your partner attractive, it is far more, in my experience, that partners think as a photographer you're getting a sexual thrill from photographiing the person.
Which is not helped when photographers on this forum ask questions like 'what should I do when I get 'aroused' while photographing a female model'. Just makes you feel a bit 'eeeeuuuuuwwww'.
Well, makes me feel a bit 'eeeuuuwww' anyway :lol:

A
Click to expand...

Aye, just curious, and what was the answer :naughty:
 
Headless Lois said:
I don't think this is the case, ref thinking the model will find your partner attractive, it is far more, in my experience, that partners think as a photographer you're getting a sexual thrill from photographiing the person.
Which is not helped when photographers on this forum ask questions like 'what should I do when I get 'aroused' while photographing a female model'. Just makes you feel a bit 'eeeeuuuuuwwww'.
Well, makes me feel a bit 'eeeuuuwww' anyway :lol:

A
Click to expand...

I can only speak from personal experience...
 
QUOTE=Byker28i;2598338]Well, certainly for the female body it's all about curves, everywhere you look on a woman is curves, from the obvious boobs and bum, to the small of the back, the hips, the calfs, the thighs.Also lighting plays a big part and a subtly lit hint of sexuality is excellant, imho.[/QUOTE]

I agree :lol:as long as she agrees!!. an does,nt call for the vet.!!.my wife collects V:naughty::gag::gag:et shots.
 
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