Nude Photography in Industrial Settings

[JustK]

Greetings! I hope I have the right forum for this question!

A friend of mine photographs nudes, and she works primarily out of her home, but she would like to begin photographing nudes in more industrial settings, adding industrial-structural-architectural elements to her photos.

Can anyone offer any tips or advice for finding such venues? or for incorporating these kinds of elements? :confused:

Thanks!
Cheers, K

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Around Connecticut, I'm sure there must be some abandoned warehouse/factory type buildings. I'd look for some, then ask around and find out who owns them. Then approach the owners for permission. About the last thing I'd want to have to do is to explain to the police and the EMT's why I was somewhere like that and my model (or I) fell and hurt themselves, or worse, encountered something that looked structurally sound but wasn't, and brought down a wall or roof, necessitating 911 services. In your area, what MIGHT be easier would be to find a museum that does living history of the Industrial Revolution and see if you can shoot in there during off-hours. I have found a few places that I shoot outdoors that include architectural elements, but those are usually on public property where public nudity is legal (Golden Gate National Recreational Area, in San Francisco).

 

[Craig Roberts]

Greetings! I hope I have the right forum for this question!

A friend of mine photographs nudes, and she works primarily out of her home, but she would like to begin photographing nudes in more industrial settings, adding industrial-structural-architectural elements to her photos.

Can anyone offer any tips or advice for finding such venues? or for incorporating these kinds of elements? :confused:

Thanks!
Cheers, K

K, I have experience in photographing nudes in an industrial setting. See www.abqartists.com Craig Roberts. Besides the technical problems, there are a lot of liability issues that come up. Unfortunately most places now are so conscious of potential law suites, that gaining the necessary permission is difficult. I don't recommend the stealth approach, just too risky. In the series I did, I had permission to be in the factory after hours. Although I do not make my living from photography, I carry personal liability insurance. All that said; I am still looking for more opportunities to juxtapose the human figure against the machine. Good luck to your friend. Craig

 

[Rolleiflexible]

Besides the technical problems, there are a lot of liability issues that come up. Unfortunately most places now are so conscious of potential law suits, that gaining the necessary permission is difficult. I don't recommend the stealth approach, just too risky. In the series I did, I had permission to be in the factory after hours.

First, a caveat: I don't like shooting "industrial nudes," any more than I like shooting "environmental nudes." It seems contrived to me. And, unless you have some really extreme ideas waaaay out there, it's clichéd.

With that caveat: I was once asked to shoot an outdoor series with a woman who wanted to use the photos for promotional purposes. (No questions, please.) I took her down to Wall Street early on a Saturday morning -- cobblestones, monumental architecture, great light, no people. At least, that was the plan.

We started in front of the Cocoa Exchange. It's a landmark building on a perfect location. The location was ruined by a big Mack truck -- work crews gutting the old Harriman Bros. bank building had cordoned off the surrounding streets. We shot a couple of rolls of her in front of the Mack truck.

http://www.pbase.com/studionyc/image/31450186

The truck belonged to a Saturday crew of construction workers. The Saturday foreman was an electrician. He came over and took an interest (guess why). To make a long story short, the crew adopted us, gave us free run of the site. We shot a half-dozen rolls on Exchange Place,

http://www.pbase.com/studionyc/image/31450254

and a few more in the hopper of a backhoe

http://www.pbase.com/studionyc/image/31450250

and still more inside the building.

http://www.pbase.com/studionyc/image/33046618

There's a moral to this story. Had we tried to arrange this shoot in advance, it never ever would have come off, for all the reasons Craig noted, and more -- the entire work site was paralyzed by the collective libidos of a hundred stunned drooling (but entirely respectful) union guys.

BUT

If you find a place that you want to do a shoot like this, and just show up with your model and a couple of assistants, odds are the guys working the site will be MORE THAN HAPPY to let you in and shoot. Especially if it's a Saturday shift, when the bosses are more likely to be away. The foreman of that job told us we were free to come back any Saturday.

He also asked me for prints to prove to the weekday laborers that it really happened. I was mobbed when I brought them by the site a few days later. It's not my gig, but it was a lot of fun.

Sanders

 

[jgjbowen]

The title made me wonder if Hef was shooting the "Girls of US Steel"

 

[haris]

And I wonder would Peter Linbergh have problems shooting nudes in industrial places...

 

[JustK]

Thank you all so much for the advice, caveats, photos, and stories! It seems that it will take a bit of planning, and maybe some luck!!

One good thing to come out of this so far is that my friend finally registered with APUG, I've been telling her what a great resource this place is, and you all just made my point!!!

Blessings, K

 

[Nick Zentena]

One of the Nude in the House shows was done in a closed factory. Might have some info on the Chum TV website. Or maybe City?

It's the usual 10ish different photographers shooting with one camera,one lens and one roll of film.

 

[bruce terry]

Can anyone offer any tips or advice for finding such venues? or for incorporating these kinds of elements?

Why do so-called "photographers" even DO this?

Maybe I'm just not arty enough to appreciate the creative, sensual subtleness of a naked female in spiked heels draped over the forks of a fork-lift truck or the hood of a Mack.

Aren't maybe, 99.99% of these kind of shots lacking in CONTEXT?

I have no issue with "offbeat" images - or attempting them - but to be worth the viewers attention the finished product must make sense - tell something! Maplethorpe's stuff for example is way, way out there but definitely carries a message. Ditto Newton - faux, frank, humerous, and "gotcha". Naked-in-a-factory with no context however is simply silly.

... OK. Let's see. Hmmm. Lucy! Take off those high heels and hang upsidedown from that empty meat hook between those skinned cow flanks ... I know you're a little cold but there's a message here ... this really works for me! Helmut eat your heart out! Gonna call it "Grade A Prime". Lucy? Lucy? Lucy??

Bruce

 

[JustK]

"Why do so-called "photographers" even DO this?"
"Naked-in-a-factory with no context however is simply silly."

Greetings Bruce and All!

Since I posed the question for my friend, I want to address the assumption that Bruce is making here, because I was asking about how to secure industrial venues, and I didn't say anything about the kind of photography that my friend does, and it's not what you think!!!

I can say that the context (industrial) most definitely fits the kind of work she does and her vision for this portfolio - she photographs male nudes, her images are abstract and dynamic, and she lith prints them beautifully.

I hope one day she will post some photos or share her website with the group!

Blessings, K

 

[BWGirl]

Greetings! I hope I have the right forum for this question!

A friend of mine photographs nudes, and she works primarily out of her home, but she would like to begin photographing nudes in more industrial settings, adding industrial-structural-architectural elements to her photos.

Can anyone offer any tips or advice for finding such venues? or for incorporating these kinds of elements? :confused:

Thanks!
Cheers, K

I guess the best tip I could offer is to wear safety shoes, a hard hat & safety goggles.

 

[JustK]

I guess the best tip I could offer is to wear safety shoes, a hard hat & safety goggles.

LOL! Now that would make for an interesting portfolio, but I don't think that's what my friend has in mind, but thanks anyways for the tips!
Cheers, K

 

[Ed Sukach]

Why do so-called "photographers" even DO this?

For the same reasons that many will photograph locomotives, waterfalls, doorknobs, slot canyons ... clouds (Stieglitz was asked why he photographed clouds - his answer, "In their formations I see nude women.")

Briefly put ... I don't know, other than photographing something you WANT to photograph beats hell out of photographing something you do NOT want to photograph.

Aren't maybe, 99.99% of these kind of shots lacking in CONTEXT?

???? I see PLENTY of "context'. Is my meaning of "context" different from yours? What do you mean by "context"?

...I have no issue with "offbeat" images - or attempting them - but to be worth the viewers attention the finished product must make sense - tell something! Maplethorpe's stuff for example is way, way out there but definitely carries a message. Ditto Newton - faux, frank, humerous, and "gotcha". Naked-in-a-factory with no context however is simply silly.

"Must make sense"... To me that is not a requirement for being "Art". If one has to study deeply, and rationalize - and defend everything - there is a great tendency to loose track of one's emotions - one's reflex response to the image. I have learned to NOT rationalize and just DO!

What message does Mapplethorpes' work (I assume you are referring to the intensely "nekkid" stuff) "carry"?

 

[patrickjames]

And I wonder would Peter Linbergh have problems shooting nudes in industrial places...

Peter Lindberg wouldn't have any problems, but he has the money and the notoriety to pull it off. He probably knows someone who knows the owner, etc.

Patrick

 

[JustK]

For the same reasons that many will photograph locomotives, waterfalls, doorknobs, slot canyons ... clouds (Stieglitz was asked why he photographed clouds - his answer, "In their formations I see nude women.")

Briefly put ... I don't know, other than photographing something you WANT to photograph beats hell out of photographing something you do NOT want to photograph.



???? I see PLENTY of "context'. Is my meaning of "context" different from yours? What do you mean by "context"?



"Must make sense"... To me that is not a requirement for being "Art". If one has to study deeply, and rationalize - and defend everything - there is a great tendency to loose track of one's emotions - one's reflex response to the image. I have learned to NOT rationalize and just DO!

What message does Mapplethorpes' work (I assume you are referring to the intensely "nekkid" stuff) "carry"?

Thanks Ed for tackling these issues and posing these questions, I couldn't even begin to address them... Blessings, K

 

[Thomassauerwein]

The only real objection I can think of is safety. Old industrial facilities are great for all kinds of oppertunity. Avoiding "cliche"as stated in a previous post is going to be everywhere. So that should simply be an awareness issue, not one for avoiding a great environments. My suggestion would be to walk the location in differing times of day and get a vibe for the place. Have a plan, then just have fun. Light and shapes in those types of places can be amazing! Not to mention the ghosts!!!!

 

[Early Riser]

The only real objection I can think of is safety. Old industrial facilities are great for all kinds of oppertunity. Avoiding "cliche"as stated in a previous post is going to be everywhere. So that should simply be an awareness issue, not one for avoiding a great environments. My suggestion would be to walk the location in differing times of day and get a vibe for the place. Have a plan, then just have fun. Light and shapes in those types of places can be amazing! Not to mention the ghosts!!!!

K, check out Thomas's work if you want inspiration, truly excellent nude and figure work.

 

[SuzanneR]

Krystyna... if your friend pulls it off, I hope she will share some of the work!

 

[haris]

Peter Lindberg wouldn't have any problems, but he has the money and the notoriety to pull it off. He probably knows someone who knows the owner, etc.

Patrick

I know, I write that because he did it, and he had big success with that series of photographs ...

 

[bruce terry]

Naked in a factory

Ed - What I mean by context in an image is as I said: I have no issue with "offbeat" images - or attempting them - but to be worth the viewers attention the finished product must make sense - tell something!

What you say about "response" is right-on and exactly my point!! "If one has to study deeply, and rationalize - and defend everything - there is a great tendency to loose track of one's emotions - one's reflex response to the image." Out shooting you see a doorknob that makes sense in your gut and you "catch" it. If it's a doorknob that hasn't told you something you don't mull, you simply snap it or not according to your film-use regimen and take your emotion on to another doorknob or another locomotive. Isn't it the same with viewing a finished product? Something causes you to immediately stop and enjoy it ... or suffer abject shock over it, i.e. the rude, frank, "nekkid" Mapplethorpe genitalias that if nothing else make a mockery of the patently lame, petty and prurient. Newton does the same with much softer and saner stuff.

Krystyna - Naked in a factory or on a Mack - male or female - is a challenge Whimpy-Me will never get around to undertaking and I apologize to you and your good friend and everyone else for pronouncing it all "silly". A picture will surely cross my path and make me take pause ... I just haven't come upon one yet. I too would really love to see your friend's takes within this venue, have her make a mockery of me.

Respectfully submitted,

Bruce

 

[JustK]

Krystyna - Naked in a factory or on a Mack - male or female - is a challenge Whimpy-Me will never get around to undertaking and I apologize to you and your good friend and everyone else for pronouncing it all "silly". A picture will surely cross my path and make me take pause ... I just haven't come upon one yet. I too would really love to see your friend's takes within this venue, have her make a mockery of me.

Respectfully submitted,

Bruce

Hi Bruce!
I'm with you - I could never undertake the challenge of photographing people, nevermind nekkid ones, and so I have a lot of respect for people who like my friend can do it respectfully and artistically, and I have to admit that my own definition of "artistic nekkidness" is rather narrow and conservative, LOL!
Blessings, K

 

[Ed Sukach]

In today's - Thursday, March 15, Boston Globe, page C12 (Section C, page 12 - Style), there is a wonderful image (nude - definitely nude) contained in a full page(!) St. Ives ad.

In deference to any possibility of copyright risks, check it out at:

www.healthybrilliance.com

That DID get my attention! I wonder if the Globe will get any flak over this...?

Any comments?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Ed- I doubt it- if it is the image on the front of the website- no nipples or body hair showing.

As someone who photographs a lot of nudes, I must say the amount of consternation that folks get into over nude images utterly stuns me. We all have bodies, and we all have to see them in their OEM glory at least once a day (unless you're from certain parts of the world where bathing is optional or exposing flesh is ill-advised).

One reason why some folks will never be able to do a nude is that whole "Nekkid" issue- they have a certain discomfort with it that prevents them from trying, and if they try, they'll most likely have a very rough go of it and not generate successful images.

I have total respect for folks who don't shoot nudes- nothing at all wrong with it- just like there's nothing wrong with someone who doesn't photograph fire hydrants. However, it does rub me a bit the wrong way when folks refer to the nude work I do as "nekkid pictures", because I do invest a great deal of seriousness into what I do, and it is not done for the purpose of prurient tittiliation. I would hope that my nude work is provocative in multiple senses - not only does it inflame the passions, but it provokes the intellect.

 

[Dave Wooten]

but Scott,

fire hydrants are nasty!

 

[smieglitz]

If you can find a copy of Veruschka: Transfigurations (or Oxydations in an earlier abbreviated and monochrome German version), there are very cool images of her body-painted to fit into industrial backdrops. Googling Veruschka will turn up a few images from several series from that book.