Fine Art Nude Group

[monkeykoder]

Sleeping with models: It depends on WHY you sleep with your models I could see it being okay but I could also see it as just an excuse to get laid which is tacky/tasteless like was already said.
Shaved or Au Naturel: I can't say I've ever liked tho look of shaved unless you're doing bodyscapes/abstract other than that I say Au Naturel any day.

 

[monkeykoder]

Simple one is nude photography just a way of getting approval for so-so art because there is a naked person (does this apply only to female nudes)?

 

[monkeykoder]

Another one dear to my heart Cheap strobes or $10,000 system. I'll tell you my opinion in a few weeks once I test out my $129 system (it is a single 150ws light).

 

[Akki14]

I think to be taken seriously you should probably not be sleeping with your models. Your reputation as a professional photographer (even if you're an amateur) would possibly suffer and you may even get the dreaded "GWAC" (guy with a camera) tag attached to you. I just find it uncomfortable to shoot if there's a serious amount of sexual tension going on. Like with the bondage photoshoot, it's a bit distracting knowing the model is getting off on it... but I'm weird and am not interested in that kind of photography. Obviously there's many people who are and there's probably considerable debate and controversy that sources like those listed by Art (gr82bart) are more mass-marketed kitschy porn than Fine Art Nude.

As far as shaved or au naturel, whatever the model is happy with. I think they often feel there's a sigma associated with hair so most of them are rather hairless. Always trying to achieve that sculpture dimension...

 

[monkeykoder]

I would personally think it has a lot to do with who the model is and who the photographer is. Sexual tension COULD play a part in getting a shot or it may not have anything to do with the shot you want. If it did you wouldn't have to sleep with the model but you would have to figure out a way of building the tension you want to show (unless of course your model is really talented).

 

[Ian Grant]

Back in the early 80's my then girl-friend/partner regularly modelled for me, we both found this eventually became problematic, a few people we knew were making incorrect assumptions about her morality & assuming that posing nude meant she was promiscuous and available. We had a particularly difficult problem with one individual.

After that relationship ended I decided it was always better to work with professional models and keep my relationships seperate.

Ian

 

[monkeykoder]

That is a reason not to that I wouldn't expect.

 

[Rolleiflexible]

My wife is my most frequent and
memorable model for nude work.
I posted a scan from a roll I shot
with her last week, over there. -->

Ian, I love the photo of Peltigera.
Well done.

Sanders

 

[monkeykoder]

If that is your wife you're a lucky man in MANY regards. I'd do a great many things to have a model that comfortable in front of my camera.

 

[Ian Grant]

Thanks for your comments Sanders.

I think you have the perfect balance in the way you work with your wife, there's a relaxed intimacy in the images that you can't get with other models. I guess that same spark is in many of Edward Weston's famous nudes of his various lovers, it's certainly there in many of David Bailey's nudes.

When working with other models it's also about building up a level of trust, I worked with one model for years we became very close friends early on and she often sent other models to me for Portfolio shoots. I don't know what she said to them first but they were always fun to work with, and it was easy to get excellent images.

But that was mostly fashion work for promotional models. Working on more personal projects I've found over the years that the models I get the images I'm really looking for with are also the most intelligent, not always well educated, but the majority have been, with Honours Degrees, Firsts and even a PhD student !

It isn't easy finding the best models but ou can easily find good models, if you have the right attitude.

Ian

 

[monkeykoder]

I don't know that a PhD student would make a good fine art model they would do great for glamor though... They're just so sexy.

 

[Rolleiflexible]

I agree trust is everything but I believe
that is true of all photography with
people, not just nude work. And I
find that it takes little time to build
trust for the purposes of a shoot. It
is enough that the subject senses
your bona fides; confidence begets
confidence; if you are at ease, not
wowed by the presence of a naked
body, and know what you are doing,
the subject senses that and it's just
like photographing anybody, with or
without clothes.

I shoot the world. But with many
exceptions, I too agree that there
seems to be a correlation between
intellect and presence. I'm posting
a photo of a biologist from Ohio
State's Ph.D. program over there. --->
A brilliant woman (though my wife
outshines her).

 

[Ian Grant]

We'd both agree that it doesn't take long to gain the trust of a model. It perhaps slightly more difficult when your expecting a stranger to disrobe for nude/partially nude shots, but with the right approach as a photographer it's not hard.

It makes a huge difference to be able to show a new model a portfolio of the type of work you shoot, or work in progress, when you first meet, or even online. I'm sure that you or Scott (TheFlyingCamera) and some others, probably do this. I've done this for years. It's also about your own confidence as you say, and skills because it's hard for models when a photographer fumbles around or is unsure.

But it's much harder for someone just starting out, they may not be confident with lighting, or know exactly what images they expect or want to shoot. That can be harder for some models too, butan experienced model can also put the photographer at ease.

I see what you mean with those two images, I'd guess that that shot of mine is atypical in that respect to.

 

[Ian Leake]

A British contemporary painter (I forget which one, but he's quite famous) said that the ideal model is either very intelligent or very stupid - because they need to be able to occupy their mind while working or have no mind to distract them. Personally I much prefer to work with intelligent models (and as you said, Ian, intelligent people aren't necessarily well educated; likewise, well educated people aren't necessarily intelligent).

 

[monkeykoder]

Well I solved my first issue (hey for $129 that flashpoint II 320a was just too darned tempting). Now on to.
Step 1: Find models.
Step 2: ...
Step 3: Profit.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Ian G -

I agree. For me, it was a huge plus having access to a top-notch art school where I could take classes that involved working with the human figure. Having other photographers around with prior experience, plus a terrific instructor, made it easy to learn how to interact with a model, how to pose and direct them, and of course, build up a quality, edited portfolio. That makes it all the easier to approach models you haven't worked with before. Now that I've got experience and the confidence in my own work and vision, it's much easier to deal with folks, and you relate to them on a personal-yet-professional level which makes the shoot go so much easier.

For those who don't have access to/can't afford a whole semester class at a community college, try a weekend workshop. There are tons of them offered all over the place, so ask around if anyone you know has attended the workshop before and knows the instructor. Having a good instructor who has a quality portfolio of their own, with a clear philosophy behind their work, is a huge plus and will make all the difference, even if you find that you don't agree with the way they do things.

 

[Ian Grant]

Scott, I really like you're nude images, it's very infrequent we see male nudes and your images have something rarely seen. You photograph a man in the same way as other photograph women, with simplicity, understanding and compassion.

Some people take offence as we know to male nudes, but the world is made up of both sexes so it's not a big deal. 2-3 thousand years ago Greek athletes competed naked and Homer loved it

Ian Leake's comment "(and as you said, Ian, intelligent people aren't necessarily well educated; likewise, well educated people aren't necessarily intelligent)." are only too true, I shared an office with a seemingly bright guy, he had a degree etc etc. He had a degree in lying, he'd cheated his way through University, but no one noticed.#

Ian

 

[monkeykoder]

All it takes to be a great model is to be a beautiful person usually it takes an intelligence of sorts to make a person beautiful.

 

[gr82bart]

Ian, Scott, Ian, Sanders,

I think what we're talking about is a muse. A model that connects with you and pushes your artistic and intellectual limits. Maybe even pushes your buttons too. I envy you Sanders. I think you've found your muse. And it shows in your work - with her in it or not.

Regards, Art.

 

[Rolleiflexible]

"It makes a huge difference to be able to show a new
model a portfolio of the type of work you shoot."

That's why God created the iPhone.

Art, yes, what Melanie does for me goes well beyond trust.
Melanie brings not only trust, and intelligence, but also her
own considerable accomplishments as a photographer and
an artist. Shooting with her is more of a collaboration and
that collaboration, as you note, extends well beyond the
images in which she appears.

 

[Ian Leake]

Muse-less today, sadly :-(

 

[monkeykoder]

Any stipulations against posting glamour/beauty related questions here? This group seems more active than the glamour/figure section of the forum.

 

[gr82bart]

Monkey,

Most people would not find glamour / beauty to be fine art nudes. I shoot a lot of glamour and I generally would never post those questions here. Some other places on the net to make such posts are: Garage Glamour, One Model Place and Model Mayhem. I would suggest you post those questions there and not here.

Thanks, Art.

 

[monkeykoder]

That is what I figured. I have asked the question on garage glamour I'm just a little nervous about screwing up my first shoot of that type but I guess I have at least 2 weeks to figure out my approach I'll be patient. If I pull off this shoot I'm hoping I get access to do some more fine art photos.

 

[monkeykoder]

Since this is pretty much universal I feel comfortable asking the question here. If the model is into just about any kind of music which genre/feel would you go for for an all around comfortable feel? Would you go for music with vocals or without?