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Stephanie Brim said:
I believe that self-discovery is an essential part of being a photgrapher. Harsh lectures can always benefit from tact, which makes them easier to work with. Sometimes lectures reveal a desire by the lecturer for enlargement in smaller areas. But only the lecturer can be honest about that.
Critical analysis of published nude fine-art works is always a great idea, but in the end, I think, it is what the individual derives from the process of self-discovery that matters. And you never know who, surprisingly, will like your self-nudes.
Self-nudes involve honesty, being able to look at, accept, and love our bumbs, stains, love-handles, sizes, curves and wrinkles without comparing our bodies to Giselle or the hunks from Chippendales. Whether or not one trys to sell or publish them, every photographer should do a nude self-study at least once. Not for the sake of narcissism, but for the sake of accepting, liking, and loving one's self. Or for whatever reasons you have.
Just set up your camera, use a table stand or something to focus on, then put a piece of tape on the floor (or bed) to mark where your focus begins, use an ambient hand-held meter to check your "exposure", ha ha, set the timer on your camera and go for it. Use a 400 speed film. On your next shoot, switch to ASA 125 for better grain. Process film, choose what you like. Then experiment more with shallow focus, etc. Work to convey not only a straight image, but perhaps something that resembles how you feel about yourself or about simply being in the buff. This could include postures of varying types. I think the point in nude self-photography is capturing and conveying you as you are, not as you think you are. Do the photos for yourself first, then maybe the world. Because the world may not care at all.....but you will.
if you're just doing this to create art (without the self-discovery approach) then just focus on creating something you like. Then compare your works with the "masters".
Anonymous nudes (meaning, most or all of the face is not visible) can sell well, I think, because the focus is less on the personal identity of the sbuject as opposed to the beauty (or whatever) of the human form. But this argument goes back and forth depending on personal taste. One photographer did a "Naked New York" that was fascinating. After looking at that, I no longer cared about Bally's!
Nudes seem to be a tricky subject in that "What has not been done already?" Again, creativity is in the eye of the photographer..and beholder to some extent. But as the photos will be of you, there's nothing and no one else to compare to, unless you want to compare print quality, BW tonality (or color), and the use of tones or color to help convey the subject (you).
And when you publish, I'd like a signed copy 🙂
Chris
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