Fine Art Nude Group

[Rolleiflexible]

You play music when you shoot?

 

[monkeykoder]

Considering this will be my first shoot that has anything to do with the subject at hand I'm just going with what has been suggested. I do tend do listen to music myself while shooting it tends to give me a different perspective on things.

 

[Ian Leake]

I prefer to talk with my models while we work rather than playing music. That said, some models prefer to have music on and I'm happy to do this if they prefer it. At the end of the day what's important is that they are completely comfortable and relaxed, and that they have all your attention.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Dustin-

I'd disagree about that comment you made about "All it takes to be a great model is to be a beautiful person". While most of us certainly respond on a subconscious level to a "beautiful" model, I've seen and worked with people who by any stretch of the imagination would be considered "beautiful" but were really bad models - they were difficult to work with, couldn't emote or pose, and as a result did not photograph well. Others only have one pose or emotion they can deliver well, and they only look good doing THAT pose/emotion. Push them the least bit and they end up looking like a frog on an electrode. I'd much rather work with someone who is uninhibited, thoughtful and physically versatile than someone "beautiful", because I know that the images we create will be a success.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

On music, if it must be there, the more "background" it can be the better. Classical is good, or classic jazz, or even new-age instrumental stuff if you must. I agree with Ian, better to be able to talk and communicate with your model than to be distracted or drowned out by the music. I think it's a tv/movie fiction of the fashion shoot with pumping techno blaring on the set.

 

[monkeykoder]

My definition of a beautiful person might be slightly different than yours to me beauty comes entirely from the inside and I find under most circumstances it is hard to hide.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Dustin - without your having said that, I wouldn't know you were using the term "beauty" in anything other than a conventional sense (referring to physical appearance).

 

[monkeykoder]

I apologize for my lack of clarity. I do tend to be a little obtuse in my speech.

 

[Dan Dozer]

I've been working with nudes (and semi nudes) for about 8 - 9 months now and am finding my self in somewhat of an emotional dilema. The models I have been working with have either been doing their make-up or I have used a make-up artist friend on a couple of occasions. I'm not talking about any thing extreme here, just normal make-up on the face. However, a couple of my photographer friends who have more model experience than myself are saying that they prefer models with no make-up at all. Maybe it's just me, but for the most part, I typically like the more "glamorous" look with some amout of cosmetic touch-up. I don't think that my work is at all approaching Glamor Photography and I still try to stay in the fine art mode of thinking because that is what I really want to do.

I don't konw any women out there who wouldn't want to look their most beautiful in photographs. I've seem some extremely dramatic tansitions in the look of a model with out and with make-up.

What do some the rest of you think about all of this? When you change a model from her "raw" look, does it quit becoming fine art photography and change to Glamor photography? Perhaps that is all in the mind of the photographer.

 

[monkeykoder]

I'll never understand why it is that people find makeup to look good. I guess to each his own.

 

[Ian Leake]

Dan - There are no rules, just opinions. I usually say "light make-up" because many women feel self-conscious without make-up on. As discussed earlier, it's all about the model being comfortable. If they appear with what I consider to be too much make-up then I don't criticise them - I just choose not to show their face in the photo. Why not try and experiment with different amounts and styles of make-up? If someone tells you there's a rule (like no make-up, or no jewellery, or no eye contact) then try doing the opposite and find out whether or not it works for you.

Dustin - people wear make-up because it usually makes them look and/or feel good (or at least better than they do without make-up). One of the models in my APUG portfolio has acne scars on her face and is extremely self-conscious about it. But her body is fabulous - her photos here have had many hundreds of views and dozens of flattering comments. We probably wouldn't have succeeded with these photos if she hadn't been wearing make-up. Perhaps a less judgemental attitude may serve you well when you start working with people.

 

[gr82bart]

Dustin,

I wouldn't worry why other people do what they do to feel however they want to feel - whether it's make up or whatever. If it doesn't impact you, who cares at the end of the day?

Regards, Art.

 

[monkeykoder]

I'm not trying to be judgmental I really don't understand it. I would rather show beauty in something rather than hide it. Then again I'm not your average person. I don't judge them I just don't understand them.

 

[Ian Leake]

Dustin - if you want to find the beauty within a person then your first step is to open your mind to that person. That means allowing their attitudes, likes and dislikes to have priority over yours. It means being interested in their life, understanding their aspirations, and accepting their opinions. Only once you've opened your mind will they show you who they are. Then you may be able to discover their beauty within.

The alternative is to project your attitudes, your opinions, and your aspirations onto them. A good model will allow you to do this; a very good model will actively help you. But don't for one minute think that you're showing their beauty within. You're actually doing the opposite. You're using them as a canvas, a prop, an object; you're showing what's within you not what's within them.

 

[monkeykoder]

It's not that I don't see their point I don't see the cultural point behind it. As for your suggestions I believe every image made by a photographer is a sort of portrait of them in addition to being about the subject matter.

 

[Ian Leake]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=E3h-T3KQNxU

 

[monkeykoder]

Just because a situation exists that you must live with does not mean you understand the situation...

 

[Akki14]

Just stepping in as a woman who agrees with the less is more make-up philosophy... you can make make-up look very natural. Smoothing out skin tone in a very gentle way, darkening eyelashes in a subtle way. Not all make-up is that slapped on whore-paint look.
I guess a lot of people have a hard time understanding why people want tattoos and piercings too. Sometimes it's not a cultural subject but a personal one. I love my friend's tattoos. I've told her I love meeting up with her because she's like her own gallery, there's always something new on her. She doesn't do it for cultural reasons, she has them done because she finds them beautiful. I'm sure there's a similar feeling for most women who wear makeup - they do it because they find it pretty. At least judging by some of the more colourful characters of where I live who do literally draw on their faces and are not spring chickens so to speak, I'm sure they feel it is more of an art form than just a way to "cover up beauty".

 

[colrehogan]

I don't wear any make-up. Period. But that's just me. I have only worked with models in a workshop situation and they do what they normally do and that's fine with me.

 

[keeds]

Thomas, your print arrived today safe and sound. It's fantastic. I really like the composition and the printing leads you to examine the print in details. Excellent. Will definitely be framing and hanging this. Could you explain your printing technique? It's intriguing. I couldn't find any description with the print. Thank you

 

[John Austin]

I don't know if I am in the right place - The current work I am doing is naked portrait with the emphasis definitely on portrait rather than art nude

This work is being done on 10x8" neg to make silver jelly prints to 40 x 50 inches

More on this subject as soon as I have some images on my Dead Link Removed

John