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09/27/2006 09:50:43 PM · #26 |
I like a very subtle look and find that black and white adds to the art mood - color can look crude if not handled well.
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09/27/2006 09:54:24 PM · #27 |
Originally posted by idnic:
I like a very subtle look and find that black and white adds to the art mood - color can look crude if not handled well. |
Not to mention that slight misjudgements in color balance (especially toward the cooler end of the spectrum) can be less than flattering to skin tones.
Saturation is a big concern, also. Most of the time a nude will look much better slightly unsaturated than at 100% saturation. |
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09/27/2006 09:56:46 PM · #28 |
Ed and Dave...yes the light on my left was stronger than the other. I often do that. I also shoot in BW on the camera and push the exposure over more than I would for normal photography...this usually blows the background and with the background and floor being white it helped reflect the light back up which reduced the shadows even more so very litte was needed to be removed in editing.
I did need to remove the join between the background and floor...haven't got my permanent studio set up yet so I am limited with my room.
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09/27/2006 09:56:58 PM · #29 |
Originally posted by idnic:
color can look crude if not handled well |
Not that such an approach (B&W vs color) is limited to nudes but I find that many people automatically assume an image to be more artistic if its B&W.
Yeah, I just saw Leroy had beaten me to the skintone issues with color. With more skin showing the color issues can be a bear to deal with especially on darker images.
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09/27/2006 10:01:59 PM · #30 |
These are the only two artistic nudes I've really done...
The first for nude III of my wife. Did midling in score, placing about in the bottom half disappointingly.
The second was a fetish shoot, and I think it came out quite nicely.
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09/27/2006 10:08:45 PM · #31 |
Fair skin on white background
Lighting
The white background bounced some light back onto the subject to help wash out any shadows
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09/27/2006 10:13:43 PM · #32 |
Originally posted by rex:
Originally posted by Judi:
Originally posted by rex:
Anyone care to show me how shadow prints are made? |
Sorry for not answering you sooner...but can you show me an example of the type of image you are referring to and I will be more than glad to help you through it. |
Link to NUDE Examples
And stuff like Dansig has above as well. |
My educated guesses =) They look like simple setups.
Seductive shadow - Side lit, single light. Can tell from the shadow the leg casts across her. Torso turned slightly into the light. Probably a softbox because the coverage is even from top to bottom.
Female nude torso - Backlit, single light. Camera angled slightly above. Maybe an umbrella from the hotspot in the top right corner drifting into falloff. Torso arched up to emphasize shadows from the ribcage.
Le Reveil - Could be window light because of the amount of coverage, but a softbox might do it too. Backlit and overhead, light coming forward into frame. Light source is farther away from the 1st 2.
Jeans Girl - 2 lights from what I can tell. Possible softbox from frame right and slightly above, and a background light from frame left (I'll guess umbrella with slight spill onto subject).
Dancer - Pretty direct, light is going almost straight into frame. Umbrella would do it. And a background light with a grid.
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09/27/2006 10:36:14 PM · #33 |
Here's mine:
Very simple--a single light on the left pointed directly at the subject. Then a combination of a very fast shutter speed (1/500 or so) and a small aperture (around f/8 or f/11), so that the only part that is exposed is the part that would usually be overexposed if the "correct" (like "auto", which would try to expose as much as possible) settings had been used.
I used a backdrop on this shot, but have made several similar ones without it...if you can get the subject much brighter than the rest of the shot, it's pretty easy to do--you don't need much, just a bright light! |
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09/27/2006 10:41:53 PM · #34 |
Originally posted by commendatori:
Here's mine:
Very simple--a single light on the left pointed directly at the subject. Then a combination of a very fast shutter speed (1/500 or so) and a small aperture (around f/8 or f/11), so that the only part that is exposed is the part that would usually be overexposed if the "correct" (like "auto", which would try to expose as much as possible) settings had been used.
I used a backdrop on this shot, but have made several similar ones without it...if you can get the subject much brighter than the rest of the shot, it's pretty easy to do--you don't need much, just a bright light! |
This is a brilliant example of how you can use lighting and one subject to make a great image.
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09/27/2006 11:23:50 PM · #35 |
I've done a couple that fall somewhere between nude and abstract:
I find it easier to control the lighting when focusing on a smaller area of the body, and it's certainly easier to frame a close-up if you don't have a decent size studio background. Also, if you are close enough then the skin texture starts adding interest. But I'm hoping to do full-body nudes as well, one of these days... |
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09/27/2006 11:25:31 PM · #36 |
Originally posted by magnus:
I've done a couple that fall somewhere between nude and abstract:
I find it easier to control the lighting when focusing on a smaller area of the body, and it's certainly easier to frame a close-up if you don't have a decent size studio background. Also, if you are close enough then the skin texture starts adding interest. But I'm hoping to do full-body nudes as well, one of these days... |
Just looking at your two examples I think you will enjoy doing full length nudes. I look forward to seeing them.
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09/27/2006 11:37:45 PM · #37 |
Although I love single light and shadow nudes that highlight lines and form, I'm reminded of a show on TV I saw a year or two ago on beauty pageants. A contestant, when asked about how she feels about her body during the swimsuit competition, remarked "the rule of thumb is, you win with the eyes, not with the thighs". That sort of sums up my taste in nudes. I don't have any examples of my own (yet), but to me the expression on the model's face conveys as much as her body does--if not more. I love the work of a photographer named Domai (do a google image search and you'll find a ton of pictures, as long as you turn off "safe search"). There isn't anything overly special about his lighting or composition techniques (most of his shots are outdoors in natural light), but the best thing about his work is the expressions he captures on his models. They exude so much joy, happiness, and confidence, that it draws you in. Of course, the models are gorgeous too, which doesn't hurt. :o) Again, just my taste, and I LOVE the work of everybody here who has posted. But when discussing technique, don't overlook the chemistry between you and your subject (yes, I know in Judi's case they are one in the same). That look into the camera will reveal more than any amount of skin they are showing.
So Cindi, Judi, or anyone else who will give it a shot--try a nude of yourself while you are laughing. It doesn't matter what you are laughing at, just look happy! Be proud, confident, and glad to be there. Nudes don't always have to be serious. BTW, this is not in ANY way a criticism of anything you've already done--you both rock in my book!
Okay, now I'll go back to sitting at the feet of the masters and learning all I can LOL!
-Don |
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09/28/2006 12:37:40 AM · #38 |
Don, I take that as a huge compliment. Now I am off to google Domai. any particular sites I should look at?
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09/28/2006 01:03:04 AM · #39 |
| I'm pretty sure that Domai is a site, not a photographer. |
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09/28/2006 01:03:12 AM · #40 |
I agree with Domai's work being nicely done as far as capturing expression. Technically the images are sound, yet simple - almost photojournalistic in style. No over the top PP, no tricky lighting setups, just nudes plain and simple. Refreshingly unextravagant.
Oh and yes Judi and Cindi rock... LOL
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09/28/2006 01:05:13 AM · #41 |
Originally posted by commendatori:
I'm pretty sure that Domai is a site, not a photographer. |
Domai at Wikipedia
it's an organization of photographers
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09/28/2006 01:07:49 AM · #42 |
Thanks Leroy. Actually that reminds me....we have mainly been covering studio nudes...well here is a start to outdoor nudes with no added lighting. These can be flattering and certainly a whole new ball game.
This one was taken outdoors in very low temps and rain and an eel swimming in the water. And yet...with a long shutter it can be done.
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09/28/2006 01:12:45 AM · #43 |
| I can't say I'm really a fan of the Domai images. While its nice to look at beautiful images, for a photograph to be art (imo) I feel like there needs to be more attention to lighting and setting. IMHO that just feels like a bunch of guys who like to take snapshots of naked women. Thats kindof an over-generalization and there were some shots on there that I thought were better than that, but hopefully you know what I mean. |
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09/28/2006 01:19:43 AM · #44 |
Originally posted by bfox2:
I can't say I'm really a fan of the Domai images. While its nice to look at beautiful images, for a photograph to be art (imo) I feel like there needs to be more attention to lighting and setting. IMHO that just feels like a bunch of guys who like to take snapshots of naked women. Thats kindof an over-generalization and there were some shots on there that I thought were better than that, but hopefully you know what I mean. |
That's an excellent point. It shows that there is a wide variety of taste and that is important in this form of photography.
Nudity is about freedom...the freedom to express yourself...whether you are the photographer or the model....and there is no limitation to that freedom.
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09/28/2006 01:24:12 AM · #45 |
I love doing nude photography, mostly indoors, but my best results have been outdoors.
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09/28/2006 01:30:39 AM · #46 |
Domai, as well as Met-art border on erotica. Even with those that enjoy nude art, you start getting close to hitting nerves.
However, I believe to keep this thread from going too far off topic, we should continue to discuss technique and style rather than choices in what is in good taste.
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09/28/2006 07:04:46 AM · #47 |
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09/28/2006 07:10:33 AM · #48 |
This one was me playing with a more low key effect - a single strobe with a honeycomb on the front which gives a lovely directional yet soft effect. Only post processing was slight lightening of the face to better match the body...
Message edited by author 2006-09-28 07:24:36. |
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09/28/2006 07:17:24 AM · #49 |
Thanks Leo. I'm just trying here to see what I can achieve and learn. I hope to return to this series someday soon. Loved the candor from the subject in your high-key shot and left you a comment.
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09/28/2006 07:26:31 AM · #50 |
Originally posted by Rgarcia:
I love doing nude photography, mostly indoors, but my best results have been outdoors. |
Roberto,
Wow. Nice comp for outdoor work but your post processing really impresses me on this one. I've not tried a grunge edit on any nudes but I have a few subjects that I think would lend themselves well to this style of editing. Very nice job.
Outdoor nudes for me can enhance the sense of intimacy and freedom. For someone to trust me and remove their clothing to express themselves in my studio seems a liberating thing for them and I try to stay far away from any discussion of their motivation; that's what they're getting out of choosing to do this. I steer over to the "here's what I'm seeing and how I'd like to try capturing this shot" section and allow them to enjoy whatever it is about expressing themselves that matters to them. Outdoor nudes, however, seem like a whole other layer beyond trusting the photographer. It seems to be a freedom of expression and enjoying the atmosphere of the world around that we're all constantly being shielded away from by our clothes and our buildings and sometimes metaphorically by society. I've only photographed nudes outdoors a few times and I can say that I'm just not at the point yet of capturing adequately anything other than a "nekkid" person. I just don't yet have the vision and control to understand what it is that I'm "seeing" and create an image that conveys that sense of expression and freedom that I feel when I view outdoor nudes such as your shot, Roberto.
Thank you for sharing this.
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