From my first nude shoot. (Uhh...Nudity Warning)

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/03/2005 01:48:40 AM · #1

OK, I'm no grigrigirl or DrJOnes, but I had an opportunity to shoot some nudes the other night. This was my first attempt, so feel free to give me comments and critiques, so I can learn. Thanks!

On these below, I tried some different processing techniques. I'm not sure if I really care for the orange lighting that I had at the location in the color one. I then converted to B&W normally and then experimented with a new technique. I'm curious to know your thoughts.

color

B&W

B&W (experiment) Too light/blown out?

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

01/03/2005 01:57:52 AM · #2

I am not even qualified to comment on nudes, but I did do some modeling photography in high school, and I'll offer you my subjective opinion anyway.

I like the first one a lot, and also the pose in the last "set". I think in that set, the leather couch is a distraction. (It's fine in #1)

As to your B&W experiments, the quadtone seems a bit "flat" toned to me, and the last one is pretty good, but perhaps too much loss of skin detail.

brianlh

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/03/2005 02:16:52 AM · #3

i would say that my favorite of the series is the 2nd picture, with the camera at her feet - the perspective is what makes it interesting for me. as a nitpick though, i would recommend trying to touch up the fold on her butt. while there's nothing wrong with this in real life (and certainly not in photography either, depending on your vision), i don't believe that it is common for a feature like this to be made apparent in nude photography

Message edited by author 2005-01-03 02:17:04.

Anastasia

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

01/03/2005 02:16:57 AM · #4

in a way I can qualify myself to judge those photos as I shoot nudes and glamour more than twice a week on a regular basis.
imho those photos are creative, though it can be not be to everyone's liking. To my liking the photos are FAR too oversharpened, nudes are supposed to be flattering and softer. The first one is still my favourite too, not too much but still sexy.
You have some good models, try again and use less light for more depth and concentrate on single body parts, combine them into a wonderful composition, model your model, take your time!
cheers
Anastasia

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

01/03/2005 02:26:01 AM · #5

Hope you don't mind. I ran the first one thru virtual photographer. It is really nice but I think it looked to harsh. Here's my version. I'll take it down if you want me to.

mcmurma

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Nikon MF 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS

01/03/2005 02:30:41 AM · #6

Nice edit pcody. Very flattering and yet still true to the original, IMO.

Also, it is my favorite image from the series as well.

lucascarr

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

01/03/2005 02:33:43 AM · #7

i like what pcody did with the picture(already was a good pic but its improved) and i also like the last one in the black & white. Nice job!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/03/2005 02:48:07 AM · #8

Thanks so far. nice edit Pat, you've given me some ideas. Heading to bed now (it's late on this side of the pond), I'll comment more tomorrow. Keep the comments, critiques coming. Thanks

samtrundle

Canon EOS-50D

01/03/2005 05:40:48 AM · #9

Okay - the first image... I like this - but she does look kind of unnatural and almost forced. I think its something to do with her eyes.

The facial expression on the second image distracts from an otherwise competent shot - she looks almost set to burst out laughing which IMO ruins the mood of the shot.

The colour version of the third image is great - really terrific pose, sexy model, great lighting.

KevinRiggs

Canon EOS-1Ds

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/03/2005 07:16:12 AM · #10

Chris,

Nice subjects and good attempts at these shots. I've only shot a few nude sessions but for me it was an amazing juxtaposition between enjoying how lovely the human body can be and being concerned that I create/capture something that I could respect artistically. What was your experience like?

The first one not only shows a "vision" for working with a subject but here you've also demonstrated good execution. You don't center on any "no-no" zones, you simply capture a great context of a lovely, female body. You seem to demonstrate good timing in capturing the subject's look. I agree with some others that this image could be softened a bit but I think Pat's version leaves the skin on the subject's cheek just a little too plasticy for my tastes. Something in between your submission and his edit; perhaps a layered mask with her face getting less of the effect. Hmmm, anyway, I think this shot demonstrates the best execution.

On the 2nd photo I don't happen to like the background you captured. Wish it was a little less well lit or maybe OoF but it looks like you were going for a strong DoF to get the whole subject in (like the OoF shoes in the foreground). This shot, IMO, shows the most vision on your part. It looks like a stretch, a test, something that you were trying and you got a good shot out of it. Maybe its exactly to your taste, maybe its on the way to something you have in your head. Don't know but I think its the most promising as far as you demonstrating an artistic vision.

On the last one photo I like the first treatment. (pause) OK. Yeah, she's pretty hot. Get another set and explore all you want. It'll be fun to comment more (/pause) I, too, think that there's too much couch in this shot or perhaps its just too well-defined and so becomes a distraction. Initially I liked the angle but from a technical perspective I don't like the curve that her back/shoulder has from the angle of her bend. If you look at the subject's right breast . . . . hmmm . . . yes . . . hmm . . . Oh yeah. Sorry. Look straight down from her right breast and you see the curves that define her shoulderblade and the ball-joint socket of her shoulder. These are natural curves in the body and can be explored in a sensuous way with the camera but here they just draw attention away from the smooth curves of her thighs, stomach, breasts and face. Also, the subject's left thigh has just a touch of shadow running up it. This shot has the most appeal for me as a man but that's a basal sensation. Artistically this one seems to be the lesser of the three in terms of a cohesive vision and solid execution. Please, please do try again. ;)

Thanks for sharing. Great job.

Kev

grigrigirl

Nikon D3

Nikon AF Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G IF-ED DX

01/03/2005 07:48:22 AM · #11

I love the angle on your second shot...not to mention it appeals to my shoe/foot fetish ;)

Its not so flattering to her face. My first emotional reaction was that she was sort of snickering at the photographer. This could be a good expression, depending on your audience. I'd rather see the photographer wielding a bit more sensual power though. ;)

Im quite impressed that this is coming from your first nude shoot. Very nice.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/03/2005 12:34:41 PM · #12

Wowzers, a lot of reading! :) Thanks. I agree with most everything said here and have already started rework some of my other photos, that can be adjusted via editing, the other was execution on my part and will have to be worked on during the next shoot (yeah Kev, there'll be more).

Thanks Anastasia for the insight of the sharpening. Doing portraits I am always making sure everything is crisp, but this is totally different and softer definately is better.

The second shot was definately an experiment on my part trying to be a little creative. I didn't quite get what I was looking for, but it is a start. Didn't even think about the fetish thing, but thanks for planting that seed, Julia. The background sucked, but I was limited in my environment.

On the first shot, the eyes, IMHO, are what makes this photo, but that's just me. Thanks for the re-edit Pat, it's a little more than I prefer, but it gave me some ideas on a re-edit, so thanks.

How's this?

Original

Re-edit

Thanks again for the comments/critiques, they are so appreciated. Please feel free to add additional critiques, as I am always wanting to learn more and get other people's insight.

brianlh

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

01/03/2005 12:40:45 PM · #13

as far as the first shot goes - i'm not sure if it's a big deal but i sometimes find, what looks like a bit of light (am i wrong? i'm not sure how the light managed to only illuminate that one area) on her chest, slightly out of place. maybe it's just me =0

Pedro

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

01/03/2005 12:48:49 PM · #14

in general I avoid shooting models from below. with wider lenses it ditorts the perspective enough that they look like they've got big feet and small heads. this may make for interesting lines and perspective for us as photographers, but isn't too likely to please the model (since most models want to look pretty, don't they? :)). the other thing shooting from below does is cause the model to look down, which can add a chin or two to even the fittest model - again not so desireable from his/her perspective.

Shots from above like your last one will tend to be the most flattering for the model. given that it's normally they who are paying...my money is on that angle. i'm not saying I'd never shoot from below, but i'd bet 80% of my model shoots are from head on or above.

of course, nobody died and made me king of anything, so take my opinion for what it's worth. nuffin.

good work Chris...

P-ness

ps; i like the high-key approach best of the three on the last pose. contrast rocks.

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

01/03/2005 12:53:20 PM · #15

I like your edit very much. Good job. I do find the necklace a bit distracting, but I'm a woman so I don't really know if guys think it's attractive or not.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/03/2005 03:37:52 PM · #16

Thanks for the comments, P-ness. I know you're generally not supposed to shoot from below the model, nobody really like those nostril shots. :) But I find, if done right, you can get a pretty cool looking shot by shooting from an unconventional angle. (Doing it right is what I have to learn)

This is still one of my favorite shots I have done, and it was shot from below.

Normally when I'm shooting models, I do like you and shoot the majority using the standard poses and angles, then throw in a few odd, experimental angles, for the helluvit and sometimes I'm suprised.

brian - Yeah, the lighting that I had to work with wasn't the best. I touched up a hotspot on the top of her forehead, but wasn't sure if I should try to get rid of the spot on her chest. I was fearful of hacking it up. :)

Pat - Thanks. What I noticed about the necklace was the spot on the left, where it looks like part of it dropped down.

Thanks again for all the comments. You all are really helping me out a lot

KevinRiggs

Canon EOS-1Ds

01/03/2005 05:02:28 PM · #17

Originally posted by cbeller:

How's this?

Hmmm. DAYUM! Nice. Good job editing. Took an attractive photo to a whole new level there.

As for Grigrigirl's comment I didn't think about that as the shoes don't do too much for me but I will say my appreciation for her work borders on a fetish.

Chris, your shots and the subsequent edits are liable to get me started on a whole sexy model fetish. Hey, next thing I know D&L will be charging my credit card $29.95 per month or something with work like this (jk).

Looking forward to more of your work.

Kev

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

01/03/2005 05:06:22 PM · #18

Aww shucks! Thanks. :)

Jacko

Canon EOS-20D

01/03/2005 07:13:24 PM · #19

Chris !!! Those rock. Thanks for sharing. Great job for your first shoot.

graphicfunk

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

01/03/2005 07:26:09 PM · #20

A good job. The second is a great angle. The first has that nice feel with the gaze.