Would You Ever Pose . . .

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/dserrault/collection/pages/weston_nahui_olin_jpg.htm

The thread has to do with nudes. Eros is the central concept. Weston is the master.

It appears that every one of the posts on this thread has overtly to do with "prurient interest" as well as personal awkwardness, especially the posts that try to sound reflective and cool.

None of this has to do with rangefinders, of course, since they're not the ideal tool for the purpose.
 
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When I was 18 years old and just starting out in photography (this is the late 60's). I would just about shoot anything for money. I was hired to shoot what I thought was going to be some nudes to be used for some cheap girlie magazine. When I showed up at the shoot, to my surprise, the photo shoot was to be for hard core porn. I shot it like I was hired to do and delivered the film to the customer but that was my last venture into that type of photography. When you are that young, all kinds of things go through your head. The whole time I was shooting I kept waiting for the cops to bust the door down! Also you have to remember that this was the 60's and although porn was big business then, it is nothing compared to today. Funny, I haven't thought about that photo shoot in many years.
 
"Do you know the difference between art and pornography? Pornography is in focus." Linda Hunt in The Year of Living Dangerously
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It seems like pornography is one of the most sought after products there is. It is literally the product that people will beat a path to your doorstep and beg to buy.

artistic rather than exploitive
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Exploitive, that's the word I was looking for to say where I draw the line between what's ok and what's not ok. Hey, I'm no prude and I've been around the block a few times. 🙂 However, I do have a problem with that which is demeaning or degrading.

You've got to admit that a lot of what we call porn is demeaning, either directly to those posing/acting/whatever or to society (to women, mostly) in general.

You see those disclaimers such as "no cats were harmed shooting this commercial" and such. You really can't say that about porn. 🙁

But again (devil's advocate mode) I can think of serious art or even reportage that's demeaning or degrading ...
 
Mapplethorpe is really an enigma. To tell you the truth, his early stuff is okay but his later, more controversial stuff, is much more bold and original. Is it art? I don't know. Do I like it? Most of it , yes. I think he was really trying to reach deep within and photograph what he felt. For that I applaud him, but a lot of people think his later stuff is nothing but porn. To each his own I suppose.
 
To answer the question, yes, i would pose nude if I knew the photographer and knew they would photograph me only in the very best light!
My local photo group regularly has nude models (paid) shoots. I must say this is the most difficult subject matter...keeping that fine line between "art" and "the other stuff". My success rate during these shoots is dismally low because we sometimes get inexperienced models and they are not well versed in posing.
It's true "work" making a good image.
 
dmr said:
It seems like pornography is one of the most sought after products there is. It is literally the product that people will beat a path to your doorstep and beg to buy.
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I like porn.

Exploitive, that's the word I was looking for to say where I draw the line between what's ok and what's not ok. Hey, I'm no prude and I've been around the block a few times. 🙂 However, I do have a problem with that which is demeaning or degrading.
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You want to know what's demeaning and degrading? Me at my day job, that's what.

You've got to admit that a lot of what we call porn is demeaning, either directly to those posing/acting/whatever or to society (to women, mostly) in general.
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I don't have to admit it.

You see those disclaimers such as "no cats were harmed shooting this commercial" and such. You really can't say that about porn. 🙁
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That must that kitty porn I keep hearing about.

But again (devil's advocate mode) I can think of serious art or even reportage that's demeaning or degrading ...
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If it doesn't push buttons, it is just a pretty picture. Or so they say.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
I wouldn't pose nude unless I lost a few pounds and went to Steve Carell's waxer from The 40-Year Old Virgin. Man O' Lantern calendar 2006, baby.

I've never shot nudes and never had a real interest in them (well, I have an interest in nudes, just not so much as my art). They're just not my thing, and it takes an incredible nude image to pique my aesthetic interest. Burned out on too many art-school-istas getting naked, I think.
 
Shot a dear friend at her request a couple of years ago with candlelight only and T-Max 3200 pushed to 12000. It was the most difficult thing technically I've ever shot, and basically cured me of any desire to ever do it again. The problems I had getting the poses adequate to the lighting and making estimates on exposure values trumped any awkwardness we might have felt, and I considered it to be hard work. Anyway, got 6 or 8 good prints out of 4 rolls, so she was quite happy in the end. I did develop a great appreciation for those who do it well.
 
bmattock said:
You guys don't like porn, don't shoot nudes, probably don't fart. What *do* you do?
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I didn't say I didn't like porn...I just consider it more of a spectator sport. 😛
And yes I do fart, but not professionally. 😀

...think I'll join you in that beer...
 
I always thought Weston's nudes looked like they'd collapsed in a heap from heat stroke and he just decided to photograph them before calling an ambulance.
 
Poptart said:
I always thought Weston's nudes looked like they'd collapsed in a heap from heat stroke and he just decided to photograph them before calling an ambulance.
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Yes, but in the very best way!
 
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