Art Nude area of interest

[kennethcooke]

I shoot 35mm B&W film with a rangefinder camera and I have great interest in Fine Art Nude Photography. I appreciate that this type of subject, the human form can be very challenging but also extremely rewarding and requires a great deal of sensitivity on the part of the photographer. Any guidelines and advise on this topic would be graciously appreciated. I live in West Yorkshire and I would be most interested to converse with any photographers/ models in this part of the world

 

[viridari]

I've been shooting nudes for almost a year. I do find it handy to have a digital around to use like a polaroid to prove the exposures out. Normally with portraiture you can focus on light and exposure on the face but with nudes you've got to worry about everything from head to toe, how it all comes together. Definitely more of a challenge. But more rewarding when you find success in it!

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I've been shooting nudes for almost a year. I do find it handy to have a digital around to use like a polaroid to prove the exposures out. Normally with portraiture you can focus on light and exposure on the face but with nudes you've got to worry about everything from head to toe, how it all comes together. Definitely more of a challenge. But more rewarding when you find success in it!

<rant> I'd like to be able to do so, but I've found that my digital camera's idea of 100 ISO is different than my flash meter's version. My digital camera is at least 1/3 if not 2/3 stop faster than my meter. While I could recalibrate my meter to match the digital camera, it would then NOT match my film, which would mean keeping two different meters, and re-setting my power levels on my power pack every time I did a "digiroid". This is something I've noticed about digital cameras, actually... my previous "high end" digital SLR was a bit slower than my meter, now my new one is faster, and in my portrait lighting seminar this fall, everyone in class who was shooting digital was getting slightly different results - some faster, some slower. It was very frustrating. I thought the whole point of ISO was that it was a STANDARD. </rant>

 

[Ian Leake]

Like Scott says. I've been trying to make a film/digital hybrid process work for much of this year. I've finally come to the conclusion that it's better to stick with either digital or film for the duration of a session rather than chopping and changing between them. I keep telling myself that EW didn't use Polaroids so how hard can it be? ;-) But I've recently resorted to using MF Fujiroids...

But back on topic... Kenneth, if you're starting from the very beginning (as everyone has to), then here are some simple things that will help you get up to speed quickly:

1. Stick to a camera system that you know - because the last thing you want to be doing in front of a model is trying to work out how your kit works
2. Don't worry when you make mistakes in front of the model. Everyone does it (a few weeks ago I managed to get one of my feet in two shots!), so when you make a mistake just laugh about it, correct it, but then don't do it again
3. Hire a really good, experienced model (I can recommend a few in the UK). Tell her (or him) that you're starting and would like to experiment. A good model will work with you to make the session a success
4. Concentrate on the model - it's all about her. Talk to her, be interested in what she has to say, be nice (it's amazing how many people forget to be nice to the model!)
5. Enjoy yourself

 

[Eston3]

I have to disagree with the last post. Yes, it's always better to be professional. But you don't start that way. I've seen bores and leechers con girls in to posing nude. I've heard of Gentlemen hiring hookers to pose. I've seen instamatics to view cameras used. I've seen homophobes shoot male nudes. There is NO rule. I got into it 30 years ago to get laid. Now, no big deal, my wife trusts me completely. Don't waste your money hiring a profesional if you know somebody who's a free spirit. You are after all, doing FAN not Glam, right.

Like the ad says..........JUST DO IT!

 

[gr82bart]

Kenneth,

My only advice is to talk/communicate with the model. I view the model as part of my creative design, so the more I tell what I am trying to do, the more I find it 'works' better. As for the type of model, I think it boils down to a combination of experience and creativity on her part. I have worked with 'professionals' with little experience/creativity and amateurs who I consider 'sort of' muses now. So I agree somewhat with Eston3 about the no rules thing, but I know what Ian is trying to say as well. There is no sure thing in the end and you're going to have to be honest and willing to make a few mistakes as part of the art.

Regards, Art.

 

[wfe]

Art is correct, it's a process that comes with both mistakes and growth. The important thing is to stay with it. Improvements will happen and at times some magic as well

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Well, for what it's worth ...... over the last 2-3 years I've been to several group studio sessions for artistic nude. Using RF cameras.
First session was a bit cliche'd, model was a complete amateur and slightly it all felt a bit tacky. But I learned that trying to use film with studio flash in a group isn't satisfactory.
Second session was with tungsten studio lighting. Better, but I learned that guys with digital will fire off literally dozens of indiscriminate shots while you're trying to get a chance to find the right light/pose/expression etc and likely the organiser will order a break or change of pose just as you're about to shoot or someone will step in front of you (or the lights) at the critical moment.
Third session, again with tungsten and with similar outcomes except that the organiser arranged poses that I (and the model) were not very comfortable with. Some guys came across as voyeurs, even though they had expensive DSLR's and big lenses. (You see the same guys all the time at successive shoots).

So, overall what I learned is that while a group session can be useful for getting some familiarity and experience of what happens at a shoot, because you're working with film and probably slower than the digital guys you won't have a very satisfactory experience. Which has lead me now to a point of confidence that I can engage a model for one-on-one photography for about the same cost as the three workshops I've attended but with the expectation of much better results and more in keeping with what I want out of it. I could even cope with an inexperienced model now.
So, it's probably not a bad idea to attend a group shoot with not much expectation other than to see how it's all done and learn what to expect (and decide if you really want to continue or not). Then, rather than spend more money on group shoots, get an experienced model and explain that you're starting out and would like her input and suggestions. Don't try to make out you know it all - you'll look like a jerk. Be honest. After you've done that successfully a couple of times maybe you'll be ready to try your luck with amateur models. By then you'll be much more experienced and you won't need as much input from the model.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I think group nude shoots are usually unsuccessful without a common united goal and a skilled organizer to manage camera time for all students.

When I was taking classes on shooting the nude, everyone in class was there to create "fine art" nudes (that term can be debated in a different thread). No Leering Larrys trying to ogle naked girls and maybe score a date. I found it quite interesting that in the university-level classes I was taking, the mix of gender in the class was about 30-40% female, even though we were mostly using female models.

The best way I've seen a group shoot organized is when each student is given a dedicated block of time to direct the model and lights, and anyone else who wants to shoot alongside, can, but they don't get to step in front or direct the model until it is their turn. This also works best when shooting under hotlights, because then everyone can set their own exposure to match their particular film/developer/process combination. Personally, I prefer to shoot with strobes, by myself, because I have much more control over what I'm doing that way, but then again, I've got a fair bit of experience now.

 

[Akki14]

I have noticed that models used to people who photograph with digital are kind of all over the place as far as moving around, more poses, more rapidly. It was a little surprising to me after having worked with slightly more art/life-drawing based models. But I'm a slow kind of person anyway so prefer the pace of my slow, plodding photography to the digital I was shooting that one time.

Don't be surprised by the ladies, Scott. We do actually take photography courses. We just don't like APUG for some reason (gee, can't imagine why considering some of the behaviour of the members here towards women...). All of my previous photography courses have been at least 50/50 male and female. If you're a serious artist, you're advised to do life drawing, on your own time if required like in my case. I was told it was expected to have some experience of it for my portfolio to apply to colleges and universities and my high school did not offer this (probably too prude to) but there was a local evening class group offering it. This and some more life drawing in college were my only background previous to any nude photography, and I was never in control of those models.

I wasn't much of a prude so I never asked if there was an alternative to life drawing for a portfolio but I gather it's seen as high brow and serious if you do work in it, at least occasionally, to prove you can draw people.

I guess fine art nude photography is another step up from that and possibly less required by photographic degree disciplines.

Oh to be able to have cameras and strobes, that'd be ace! Silly ancient cameras I have... Actually I guess one *can* be used with strobes but I don't have any and I still need to figure out how to tone down my pair of 500w halogen site lights to something less boiling, less eyebleeding hotlight...

And now I'm rambling Though you're slightly inspiring me to make an effort again.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Heather- what I meant was that I was surprised by the amount of women signing up for a nude photo class with the advance knowledge that the models would be predominantly female. But then again, I've seen women photographers say they feel more comfortable photographing female nudes than male nudes for a variety of reasons.

 

[Akki14]

Yes I think girls don't have much hangups photoing other girls. I'd feel more comfortable doing so because there's no social/society dominance thing. Even if the men are naked, they're scary!

 

[doughowk]

The problem I have with figure study is deciding whether I have anything new to contribute. Looking at a female form is like going to Yosemite and trying to avoid the iconic images of people like Adams, Sexton, etc.. Nude portraits of beautiful women are easy; but when I look at a woman as a form I'm reminded of those done by the Westons, Bernhard, Gibson. Probably that's one of the benefits of a life drawing class - a cultivated abstract viewpoint.

 

[Akki14]

I suppose that's a good point but the more I think about it, the more I think everything has been done before and what's important is that I do something for myself sometimes. For my own enjoyment. Certainly Weston, who I do admire, did pictures of peppers but mine are different and they're *mine*.

 

[dpurdy]

I agree with Heather. I try to let my work come from my life. Which is not as easy as it sounds. Also I think it is best not to have your head full of other people's work. I don't look for inspiration in other people's photography. It is better to look for it in your own life or sometimes looking at mediums other than photography.