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09/09/2004 08:48:33 PM · #1 |
Just wondering, how does one go about shooting nudes/topless/sensual in a public place, like a beach for example? Or how about just around town with a model? If you've done any of these yourself, care to share your experience?
June
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09/09/2004 09:02:07 PM · #2 |
| Get yourself one of these :P |
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09/09/2004 09:02:11 PM · #3 |
| I tried doing this for the nude challenge. The idea was for my girlfriend to be topless next to a waterfall taken with a slow shutter. I got 1 pic taken before cars pulled up, so that ended that real quick. |
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09/09/2004 09:03:59 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by faidoi:
Get yourself one of these :P |
It's not the model I'm worried about, it's bystanders and the law.
June
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09/09/2004 09:04:19 PM · #5 |
Check with local law enforcement agencies regarding laws on public nudity before you do it.
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09/09/2004 09:16:33 PM · #6 |
| I think that even if a place was destinated a nude beach you would still have to be careful. These places may not allow cameras. |
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09/09/2004 10:46:59 PM · #7 |
I've done this a couple of times and finding an appropriate location can be difficult. I suggest that you select a location that is (A) not a state park and (B) not frequented by the general public (from my experience). We often parked at a public spot and then walked to the location. I've shot both on secluded nature paths and once in an alleyway. Having a "lookout" to help keep an eye out for the public frees you and the model(s) to direct your attention to producing artistic shots that are expressions of intimate art. So far I've never been surprised but I have had someone hiking and notice what was going on so they had to swing back around for another look (they were probably about 200 feet away (60-70 meters) and they resumed their hike after verifying what they saw.
Here's what I suggest:
1) Take a lookout. Station him or her where they can view the most likely route a passerby would take and then remind them that this isn't mission impossible but if they see someone to calmly let you know.
2) Bring a loose-fitting top that the model can easily pull over. If the subject is female and will be completely nude then bring some little dress that can be slipped into easily (like anyone will want to see if she's wearing underwear). I figure guys can be a little more tricky but perhaps if he shrugs into a pair of shorts and has a shirt nearby it would simply seem like a regular photoshoot so maybe no questions asked.
3) If its your first public nude/topless shot, shoot a couple of frames with your model clothed just to be sure that you have your camera settings correct. You should expect some excitement JITTERS for your first topless/nude public shoot. The air of illicit behavior can be tremulous but the goal is that you get beyond personal feelings and move into the model expressing something artistic and you capturing it (or the two of you collaborating on it anyway).
4) When you are ready to proceed, speak confidently and just tell the model that you are ready to begin. Based on the model's experience he/she may move through a series of poses and physical exposure (taking off clothes) in such a manner that all you need to do is snap the shutter and change your angle of approach or the lighting. Then again, you might end up with someone who would feel more comfortable with direction and you should have a few poses that you want to get as cheesy "this is a classic nude guy/girl pose" type poses.
5) Posing: some poses are trite but there is a reason people select them. Visually people tend to categorize elements that are more masculine and ones that are more feminine. If you're shooting with a guy don't just bypass the obligatory "shoulders from behind with hands raised to the back of head" shot or for a woman you can capture a shot from lower navel (just above the pubic area) to the clavical (showing feminine curves). These types of shots may not be what you want to share and they may not be the artistic expression that you want to create but they can get your artistic eye on a roll and lead into other poses that are more an collaborative expression of the model and photog. For feminine motif I once took some fabric for the model to wrap herself in and photographed her in a field with hay bales and a treeline in the background. She felt more comfortable having at least some material to cover her and it made it very difficult to see that she was nude.
I would like to shoot some artistic nude work both out-of-doors and in-studio with male and female subjects but I want to feel that I have a better mastery of lighting, composition and posing. I have shot some work of this type that the model and his/her intimate friend(s) enjoyed and felt strong attachments to. I don't feel like it was my best or most creative work and so I hesitate to share or even go through the hassle. Of course I strongly encourage anyone who wants to shoot a particular style to just get into it. However you learn is best for you. I started off shooting 500-750 frames for a 4 hour photoshoot with a subject. Now I shoot somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 that amount and I usually get just as many frames that I'm happy with. I see that as a progression. Once I feel confident that I can produce that level of consistency and generate images that have visual impact and emotion then I suspect that my desire to study the human body as a photographic element will get more attention and time from me.
It is important to understand that should a law enforcement officer engage you regarding this activity the odds are that you will be in violation of public decency laws and that the model will bear the brunt of the offense because he/she will be the unclothed person. Not that the photog will always get away without trouble but the person cited first may well be the nude or topless model.
Hope you find some of this helpful,
Kev
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09/09/2004 11:10:20 PM · #8 |
Here in Toronto we can go topless beleive it or not.
Message edited by author 2004-09-09 23:10:39. |
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09/09/2004 11:14:53 PM · #9 |
Kevin, what would we ever do without you? I get the feeling this photography stuff is just second nature to you! As far as the original concern, I've seen plenty of women bathing topless in broad daylight during the summer when South Beach is crowded, so I dont think topless should be a problem. Fully nude might be and I would hate for the model to get in trouble, although no one will be putting a gun to her/his head, they would be naked of their own free will. Also, I would probably do this around dawn when the beach is empty and the light is better.
I bit the bullet and signed up at OMP, I chose the cheapest option of course . I sent an email to a model I'm interested in working with and she replied. I explained to her what I was after and agreed to the terms. She said she's interested in doing a nude/sensual shoot with another girl or guy. I explained to her that I won't do any hardcore stuff but that I would consider artistic sensual images. Talk about being nervous! The only other chick I've seen naked is my sister and she's 4! I'm gonna need all the valium I can get my hands on!
June
Message edited by author 2004-09-09 23:16:43.
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09/09/2004 11:24:41 PM · #10 |
Please don't laugh. I am sincere in seeking an answer for my curiosity--but I what amateur or semipro photographers "do" with their artistic nudes? Let me explain.
If I take landscapes, or flowers, etc., I think that they would generally be "saleable", to stores, galleries, on DPCPrints, online, etc., once I improve enough. But what do you plan to do with your nudes? I presume most are not just taking them for their own enjoyment (hanging in the house), so where would you sell them? There seem to be so many good photographers taking nudes--I wonder if there's really a market for them accessible to sem-pros or amateurs--other than to "specialty" magazines?
I guess the same question applies to photographing models (nude or otherwise).
Sorry if this seems like a stupid question. I'd just love to hear from some people that have gone this route.
Edits: For clarity and grammar. sorry.
Message edited by author 2004-09-09 23:25:42. |
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09/09/2004 11:40:14 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by nshapiro:
Please don't laugh. I am sincere in seeking an answer for my curiosity--but I what amateur or semipro photographers "do" with their artistic nudes? Let me explain.
If I take landscapes, or flowers, etc., I think that they would generally be "saleable", to stores, galleries, on DPCPrints, online, etc., once I improve enough. But what do you plan to do with your nudes? I presume most are not just taking them for their own enjoyment (hanging in the house), so where would you sell them? There seem to be so many good photographers taking nudes--I wonder if there's really a market for them accessible to sem-pros or amateurs--other than to "specialty" magazines?
I guess the same question applies to photographing models (nude or otherwise).
Sorry if this seems like a stupid question. I'd just love to hear from some people that have gone this route.
Edits: For clarity and grammar. sorry. |
Well, as far as photographing clothed models goes, it's a good way to build a portfolio if you wanna get into the portrait photography business. For me it's all about building a portfolio. I plan on doint TFP, but who knows if the model likes the pictures and wants more than the agreed amount of prints? That's a sale right there! I don't photograph everything with the intention of selling it, it's just something I do for myself, to improve my technique, to learn by trial and error. It's a hobby, I do it for my own enjoyment ( I don't mean the nudes pictures themselves but the photographing people part). Do people that build model airplanes or trains or whatever do it with selling them in mind? No, they do it because the love to do it. As much as I suck, I love photography and I want to experiment with every aspect of it. Just my 2 cents.
June
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09/10/2004 12:01:42 AM · #12 |
June,
First off, without me you would do exactly what you're gonna do anyway: learn from your own experience. I'm happy to share my experiences but you'll actually learn and develop your own style as you get out there and shoot what you like and what you feel expresses your own view. Secondly I'll share something from the pending tutorial that may sound silly but I swear by it. Before any shoot I always eat a Hershey candy bar (my step-father works for M&M Mars so I have to suggest that you select your own confection - mine are plain Hershey chocolate bars). The chocolate helps to calm my nerves and just takes that initial edge off. Unless something goes horribly wrong I stop by an Eckerds, WalGreens, gas station or some place that sells those lovely little chocolate surprises and I down one with a bottle of water. As for "decency" laws, here in Tennessee just about anything can get someone to give you a weird look and start the questions. Topless is definitely a "no-no" in a public place and completely nude is just tempting fate unless you have a secluded area with someone to help (of course that brings with it other concerns).
Neil,
I'm not laughing at all. I wouldn't think that an intimate portrait or "sensual art" would be marketable. It's too easy to spend a few bucks on the Internet and see someone exposing or expressing themselves in a style that caters to whatever particular bent an individual might have: you like large, hairy men? Website A. Petite women who wear wigs? Website B.
SHORT ANSWER: Its a matter of artistic expression; I want to display for others what I find compelling and attractive or demonstrate what exactly it is that I find so attention commanding when I see certain things. I wouldn't expect to find a market for this; just a voice even if no one else wants to listen. My first foray into this was a complete nude set in a field. I'd love to revisit that idea now that I know a little more but I would rather wait until I've proven myself in other styles of photography or proven my mastery of other elements of composition. I've photographed someone who trusted me to take her photos for submission to a national "men's" magazine. We had worked together and she just wanted someone that she felt comfortable with. It was just a job to me but I appreciated her trust. I also shot a set with some models who wanted some shots that were more edgy and self-expresssive for portfolios. The last category has been for models with whom I've shot a few times and who want something to share with their significant other. Some people seem to like the idea of having a photo of their significant other in the "buff" but in an unlikely setting like a public place (nevermind that the locale may be removed from the normal public thoroughfares).
LONG ANSWER:
My experience has been based on this: I was seeking some method of self-expression when I turned back to photography after twenty-some years without a camera in my hands. If I never make a dime at photography I'd be satisfied (but I find myself wanting more expensive equipment and thus feel like I may eventually have to start soliciting photography business). In my journey of self-expression I find that some subject matter intrigues me more than others. Growing up in a rural setting in TN (like there are any metropolises here) I used to photograph landscapes, animals and friends. I didn't know much about the mechanics of photography but I knew that some photos had more of an impact. Currently I feel that my photography has advanced to a point where I can consistently produce a decent portrait but nothing that "moves" a viewer; no truly compelling images. Perhaps its lack of vision, perhaps its that I'm just not inspired by the subject matter or the setting or any number of pieces of the composition. I, like many people, find the human form . . . intriguing and powerfully beautiful. I don't want to photograph a vagina or penis or even a couple being intimate. I am, however, intrigued by how muscles ripple across the back and shoulders of someone or how a well muscled thigh and calf can provide an interplay of bright, healthy skin while holding shadows and hints of touches in some of the contours. Trying to evade the first (which I consider to be more exploitative) and still find a way to express the beauty and elegance I see in the second is a task that I don't believe I'm up to right now. This style of shooting may never be a destination for my photography but I feel that it could be a useful process to explore as I try to carve our a niche not of a market but of a medium of expression. Some people master music or dance or painting. I would like to produce artwork with photography that captures the essence of some THING and presents it to viewers in a way that makes them pause and consider how they view something and how I might have viewed it (and displayed it) differently.
Well, that's enough from me for tonight. You all have fun.
Kev
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09/10/2004 12:18:20 AM · #13 |
Thanks Kevin and June for the detailed explanations. I can understand how it can be a means of self-expression -- like any art -- and self-improvement. And certainly, some good artistic nudes or model photographs would be a big help in a portfolio to show your talent. I also hadn't considered that some people commission nudes.
And thanks for not laughing at the question ;) |
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. I sent an email to a model I'm interested in working with and she replied. I explained to her what I was after and agreed to the terms. She said she's interested in doing a nude/sensual shoot with another girl or guy. I explained to her that I won't do any hardcore stuff but that I would consider artistic sensual images. Talk about being nervous! The only other chick I've seen naked is my sister and she's 4! I'm gonna need all the valium I can get my hands on!
