GradedUnitProposal Studio:FineArtMaleNudes

ChrisScott,HN2B

 Muchfussismadeovertheobjectificationofwomeninthemediaandyetthetreatmentofmenisleft almostunmentioned.Fromtheshelvesofeverynewsagentwearepresentedwiththemessagethatthis ishowamanissupposedtolookwithoutashirton:

Thisisnotanewthing;advertisinghasbeenfilledwithtoplesshunkssinceMarkyMark'snotorious underwearshootforCalvinKlein.However,inthepastdecadethegrowingtrendhasbecomethenorm, andtodayifaman'storsoistobeseenbythepublicitislikelytobeextremelysculptedandposedto emphasisethemuscles. Thereismuchdebateovertherepresentationofwomeninthemediaanditseffectonyounggirlswho strivetoshoehornthemselvesintothepopularconceptionofwhatmakesawomansexuallyattractive. Furtherdebategoesintowhywomenshouldneedtomakethemselvesovertlysexual.Andyetalmost nothingissaidabouttheimprobableimagesofthemaleformthatmenarefacedwithonbillboards,in televisionandfilm,inshopsandevenonproductpackaging.

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Thisisarguablyworsethantheovertsexualisingofwomeninthemedia,asithassubvertedpeople's conceptofthemaleandsomehowbypassedthepunditswhoprotestsuchthings.Inordertolooklike photographsinthemediawomenhavetostarvethemselves,shaveorwaxvariousbodypartsand spendhundredsofpoundseveryyearonbeautifyingthemselves.Formen,thesculptedtorsosandpecs invariablyhairlesscanonlybeattainedthroughspendinghourseverydayinthegym,somethingthat fewcansparethetimeormoneyfor. Historically,theartworldhasbeenfilledwithmalenudes.InancientGreecethemaleformwasidolised andmanygreatworksofartfeaturemalenudes,whilefemalenudeswerelikelytohavetheirgenitals concealed.TheadventoftheRomanCatholicChurchbroughtachangeinthis;theideaof'heroicnudity' graduallydiedoutandinthe16thCenturythechurchtooktoadorningsuchfigureswithfigleavesto covertheirnakedness.Morerecentlymostofthesepieceshavebeenrestoredtotheiroriginalstate, buttheideathatshowingaman'sgenitalswaswrongtookrootandcontinuestothisday. Photographically,thenudeisapopularsubjectandhasbeensincetheearlydaysoftheform.However, astheindustrywasinitsinfancyduringtherepressiveVictorianeraphotographicnudeswerevery commonlyusedforcoverttitillation;theearlydaysof'beefcake'imagesareseentobeanotverysubtle sourceofhomosexualeroticaandthisuseofmalenudephotographycontinuestoday. Soontheonehandweseeimagesofidealised,sculptedtorsosinthemedia.Beyondthese,imagesof themalenudearemostlikelytobemadefor,orusedfor,pornographicpurposes.Where,inthe21st
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century,aretheimagesofrealmen'sbodies?Whotakesphotographsofmenintheexpressiveand artisticstyleofEdwardWeston? Thereareahandfulofphotographerswhoappreciatethemaleformandpresentitwell.Robert Mapplethorpe'simages,whilstoftenborderingontheerotic,areabeautifulexampleofhowbodiescan beartinthemselves.DavidHilliard'sworkoftencontainsuncomplicatedexamplesofunclothedmen; HenningVonBergwalksthelinebetweenartisticnudeanderotica;PaalHenrikEkerndoesalotofwork basedaroundthenakedmaleform,usingitalmostlikeacanvas.It'snotthatnobodyisworkingwith malenudesinart,butitseemstobeararitywhencomparedtothequantityofpornographicwork featuringmenandtheartisticimagesoffemalenudes. Mygoalistoshowthatthemaleformcanbebeautifulwithoutrequiringexcessivemusculatureor erections.UsingEdwardWeston'simagesasastartingpointandinspirationforstyle,Iintendto investigatethemalenudeusingdifferentmodelstocreatearangeofimages. Asasetofthirtyimagesishardtodifferentiate,Iwilldividethemintosixsetsoffive: 1.EdwardWeston'snudesAnalysisofpose,lightandshadow IwillattempttorecreatefiveimagesbyEdwardWestonusingmalebodies,lookingathis useoflightandposestocreateshapes. 2.ClassicalposesinnonphotographicmediaRecreatingwithmodernequipment Iwilltakefivepiecesofnonphotographicartandattempttoadapttheminto photographsofmalenudes. 3.Awkwardanduncomfortableposesfrommodernart Lookingatmodernart,thenudeisoftendistortedorpresentedinanunflattering manner;forthesefiveIwilladaptsomeoftheseworksusingrealbodiesandacamera. 4.Abstractandnonhumanshapesinterpretedintoposes Somepaintingsorphotographscanbeseenbytheviewerasalmostahumanshape.Iwill choosefiveexamplesofthisandinterpretthemintoimagesofbodies. 5.Closeupimagesofmalebodies It'sraretoseeonlysmallpartsofabody,unlessit'safaceorfortitillation.Thesefive imageswillattempttoshowthebeautyinsmallerpiecesofthemaleform. 6.Pseudoeroticaposesthataresuggestiveofmorewithoutbeingovertlyerotic Itwouldberemissofmenottoacknowledgetherootsofthisprojectsoforthesefive imagesIwillattempttocreateabalancebetweenanartistic,beautifulimageandimplied eroticism. Forthepurposesofthisprojectitdidn'tseempracticaltousethestudiosatthecollege.It'sfarfrom town,thespacesareingreatdemandandthey'renotveryprivateorwarmforpeopletobegetting undressedin.IwillinsteadbeusingstudiospacesaroundEdinburghorcreatingstudiosinpeople's houses.

IfeelthatpartofwhatdrawspeopletoWeston'sworkisthe veryhandsonapproachhetook;eventodayonecanseeprints madebythemanhimself,manyofthemdevelopedbyeyeand printedusinghandmadechemicals. Thisauraoftheoriginalhasagreatimpactonmanyviewersand inthisveinIwoulddearlyliketoproduceprintsofthefinal imagesbyhand,usingliquidemulsiononfineartpaper. However,theextratimeandvariableinvolvedgivesmepause forthoughtsoIhavedecidedtohavethemprintedbyGicleeUK Ltd,acompanybasedinEdinburghwhospecialiseinprintingart ratherthanjustphotographs.

Althoughthecameraislargelyresponsibleforthesoft magicofFredHollandDay'simages,theuseof analogueprintingprocesssurelyaddstoit.

ItseemedobvioustomefromthestartthatIwouldbeproducingmonochromeimagesbutIdidwonder whetherthiswasanythingmorethanmythoughtsbeingfocusedonWeston. AcoupleofnottoodissimilarimagesfromFlickrwhichIhadfoundinmyresearch;thecolouroneseems somehowcheaperandlesslikeapieceofartwhereasthemonochromeimagedrawsyoureyewiththe shadowsandlinesofthebody.Perhapsthisispartlyakindofconditioning,thatwe'reaccustomedto seeingdreadfulsnapshotsincolourandmorelikelytoseemonochromeimagesproducedbyclassic photographers.Whateverthereason,Ifeelvindicated.

ByNellyXonFlickrhttp://www.flickr.com/people/a_shooter/

Byaris_slateronFlickrhttp://www.flickr.com/people/21788124@N07/

Ihavefoundthatwhenprintingitcanbeveryeffectivetohaveasmallamountofnoiseintheimage, especiallywheninmonochrome.BecauseofthisIamcomfortableshootingeverythingforthisat 800ISO:onthe5Dmk2thisisnotespeciallynoisybutitwillallowmetouselessintenselight. Asforlight,IamtryingwherepossibletocreateaWestonaestheticsoIwillbeusingcontinuouslight ratherthanflash.Ihavetwolights,a500Wanda650Wwithfresnellens,barndoorsanddimmer.Tests haveshownthatthe650Wlightwillroughlyallow1/40satf5.6.WiththeseIwillusewhiteandblack flagsanddiffuserpanelsagainstblack,greyandwhitebackgroundstocreatearangeoflightingeffects. AsIwillmostlybeusingalargestudiospace,andagainharkingbacktoWeston,Iwilluseonlya50mm lens.WithspacetomovethismeansthatIcan'zoomwithmyfeet'andhavethebonusofagoodprime lens.
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 AsanextrachallengeIwillbepresentingtheimagesinsquareformat.I'vebeenmeaningtodo somethinginthisformatforalongtime.IfIwasworkingonthisprojecttenyearsagoIwouldeither havebeenshootinglargeformatoronsquare120filmsothisisanothernodtopredigitaldays.Italso meansthatthefinishedproductwillbeconsistentinshapeandthereisnoneedtoworryaboutsome imagesbeinghorizontalorvertical.Ofcourse,fittingahumanformwhichisgenerallynotsquareintoa squarewithoutleavingconspicuousblankspacewillbeaninterestingconcern... Therestofthisproposalwilllookalotlikethis: Detailsoftheshot:date,location,modelandtechnical details.Ascertainsettingsnamely800ISOona5Dmk2 with50mmlenswillbethesamethroughouttherewill TheimageIaimtorecreateoram benofurthermentionofthese. primarilyreferencing

Lightingdiagram Otherimagesfrommyresearch,relatedtothe mainimageeitherthematically,compositionallyor technically. Pages3843,however,comprisesections4and5,thelessplannedpartsoftheproposal.Thesecontain onlyaroughsuggestionofwhatIwillbeshooting.Iamtakingthisasanopportunitytobemorecreative forthese10images,notleastbecausetheywillbytheirnatureabstractsandcloseupsbevery dependantoninterpretationandthemodel.

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SHOT1.1 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f5.6whichwillrequireaslowshutterspeed Light(s): Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,aboveandtorightofcamera. Other: Greybackground Blackflag Tripod

KateHutchison

EmmetGowin

FredHollandDay

EdwardWeston

LookingatWeston'snudesthereisalotoffolding.Thisimagehasthelegcrossingthekneewhich shouldbeinterestingtoattemptwithamanwhoselegscancloselesscomfortably.

SHOT1.2 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f5.6whichwillrequireaslowshutterspeed Light(s): Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,nexttocamera Other: Blackbackground Whiteflagoneithersideofmodel Tripod

HenriMatisse WilliamAdolpheBouguereau

KateHutchison

EdwardWeston

Furtherfoldinghere,moreangularthistime.What'sinterestingisthelighting,whichisfarlessintegrala partoftheimageherethanin1.1.

SHOT1.3 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f5.6whichwillrequireaslowshutterspeed Light(s): Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,cameraleft Other: Blackbackground Blackflagoneithersideofmodel Tripod

EdwardWeston

http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_shooter/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21788124@N07/

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EdwardWeston

Thisisallaboutshadow.Monochromeimageslendthemselvesbettertothestudyofformandshadow thancolourandthis,beingsuchanoddlycomposedimageandwithsuchdeepshadow,isagood example.Usingawellbuiltmaninaposesuchasthisshouldgiveanotdissimilareffect.

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SHOT1.4 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f8which,duetotheextralight,shouldallowamoderateshutterspeed Light(s): Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,cameraleft Honeycomboncontinuouslight,spotonbackground Other: Greybackground Tripod

http://www.flickr.com/photos/otlildos/

RobertMapplethorpe

http://www.flickr.com/photos/erotic_couple/

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EdwardWeston

Averysharpimage.Forsomereasonphotographsofmen'sbottomsoftenlookslumpedandlazythose thataren'tspoiledbywarm,lowhangingtestes.Thetwistedformherewillhopefullyproduceamore aestheticallypleasingmalebottom.

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SHOT1.5 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f8whichwillrequireaslowshutterspeed Light(s): Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,nexttocamera Other: Greybackground Blackflagoneithersideofmodel Tripod

RonMueck

LucienFreude

FredHollandDay

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EdwardWeston

Thisimageseemsquiteunreal,duebothtotheposewhichisunusualanduncomfortablelookingand thedarklinesoutliningtheform.Hopefullyadequateflaggingwillhelptorecreatethislightingeffect.

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SHOT2.1 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f5.6whichwillrequireaslowshutterspeed Light(s): Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,leftofcamera Other: Greybackground Blackflagonrightsideofmodel Tripod

GaetanoD'Agata

RobertMapplethorpe

,GeorgesSeurat

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JeanHippolyteFlandrin

ThisisoneofthemostimitatedimagesIhavecomeacross.Whetherbydesignorconvergentevolution ofideasit'ssomethingthathundredsofpeoplehavetriedtorecreatesoitseemsappropriatethatido thesame.

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SHOT2.2 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f5.6whichwillrequireaslowshutterspeed Light(s): Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,rightofcamera Other: Blackbackground Blackflagonleftsideofmodel Tripod

KateHutchison

WilliamEtty

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nathantia/

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WilliamEtty

Whenstanding,malebuttocksseemfarmorelikelytocomeoutwellandhavebeenapopularstudyfor allsortsofartists.HereIwilltrynotonlytorevivethepose,withthebentkneesuggestingmovement, butalsothelightingwhichleavestheleftleginshadow.

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SHOT2.3 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f8whichwillrequireaslowshutterspeed Light(s): Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,rightofcamera Other: Greybackground Blackflagonleftsideofmodel Tripod

EugeneDelacroix

JeanLouisMarieEugneDurieu

HenningvonBerg

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JeanBaptisteWicar

Incertainposesthemusculatureofthebackcanbebroughtoutwonderfully.Thisimagedrawsmein withitsnearphotorealismandthesharplinessoIhopetoconveysomeofthissharpnessandcapture themuscletone.

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SHOT24 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f8whichwillrequireaslowshutterspeed Light(s): Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,leftofcamera Other: Blackbackground Blackflagonbothsidesofmodel Tripod

JohnConstable

LucienFreud

ManRay

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WilliamEtty

Manyclassicalnudesshowwomenrecliningandposingonachaiselongueorsimilar,facingtheviewer andgenerallypointingatthem.AfewartistsdootherwiseandhereIenjoytheslumped,almostlifeless positionwiththelightgentlypickingthesubjectout.

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SHOT2.5 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f4whichshouldallowamoderateshutterspeed Light(s): Honeycomboncontinuouslight,rightofcamera Other: BlackBackground Blackflagonrightsideofmodel Whiteflagonleftofmodel Tripod

WilliamEtty

LudwigvonHofmann

MarioFortuny

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WilliamEtty

Apparentlyonseeingthispaintinginpersononecouldalmostbelieveittobeawindowintoan adjoiningroom.Ihavealwayslikedpaintingslikethisandherewealsohaveaveryunusual,almost fetishistic,pose.WhileIintenttomimictheposeIwilldosowithoutthepropswhichshouldaddtothe oddityoftheimage.

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SHOT3.1 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f8which,withtheextralight,shouldallowamoderateshutterspeed Light(s): Continuouslightsthroughdiffusers,cameraleftandlight Other: Whitebackground Tripod

WilliamEtty

LucienFreud

RobertMapplethorpe

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EgonSchiele

EgonShieleisamasterwhenitcomestoimagesofdistortedbodies.whenmymodelforthissawthe imagehedeclaredthatitwasthespittingimageofhim,whichishowhecametobethemodel.Mygoal hereistocapturetheuncomfortablefeelingthattheoriginalhas.

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SHOT3.2 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f4whichshouldallowamoderateshutterspeed Light(s): Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,rightofmodel Other: BlackBackground Blackflagonleftsideofmodel

EgonSchiele

EgonSchiele

ThodoreGricault

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EgonSchiele

FurtherEgonShiele,evenmoredistortedandunpleasanttolookatbutaveryinterestingpose.By lightingfromonesideIhopetoemphasisethestrangeshapesmadebythebodyhere.

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SHOT3.3 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f5.6whichshouldallowamoderateshutterspeed Light(s): Continuouslightsthroughdiffusers,leftandlightofmodel Other: GreyBackground Tripod

ManRay

KateHutchison

HenriMatisse

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LucienFreud

LucienFreud'sworkshowsnakedbodiesexposedandrawandyettheyarepaintedinsuchawayasto renderthememotionlessandblank;theimageshowswhatistherewithoutjudgement.Thepositionof thearmshereisquitecommonlyusedandisflatteringforthetorso.HereIhopetoproducesomething assimpleasFreud.

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SHOT3.4 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f4whichshouldallowamoderateshutterspeed Light(s): Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,rightofandabovecamera Other: Greybackground Blackflagonleftsideofmodel Tripod

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tgkw/6515966267

EgonSchiele

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LucienFreud

MoreFreud,hereIliketheopennessandvulnerabilityoftheposewhichmanagestogiveahintof despair.

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SHOT3.5 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f4whichshouldallowamoderateshutterspeed Light(s): Continuouslightthroughdiffuser,abovemodelpointingdown Other: Blackbackground Blackflagonbothsidesofmodel Tripod

LudwigvonHofmann

ArnoBreker

RonMueck

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ArnoBreker

ArnoBrekermadealotofsculpturesinNaziGermanyandmuchofhisworkshowsmuscularidealised formsinheroicposes.Thisonestandsoutasitisaposethatreeksofexhaustionandsadness.

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 SHOT4.1
knee
nipple

AndelAdams

SHOT4.2

CasparDavidFriedrich

SHOT4.3

HenryMoore

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 SHOT4.4

AnselAdams

SHOT4.5

GeorgesJouve

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 SHOT5.1

PaalHenrikEkern

SHOT5.2

RobertMapplethorpe

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 SHOT5.3

LindsayAdler

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 SHOT5.4

crophere

WilliamEtty

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 SHOT5.5

lookingfrom here

MarioFortuny

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SHOT6.1 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f5.6whichwillrequireaslowshutterspeed Light(s): Continuouslightthroughdiffuser,rightcamera Other: Blackbackground Whiteflagonbothsidesofmodel Tripod

GavinEvans

Unattributed,fromTumblr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15029064@N08

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GavinEvans

GavinEvanshasdocumentedmanycircusperformersand'freaks'.Healwaysdoessowithtasteand consideration,allowingthevieweranhonestyetnotunattractiveglimpseintoanotherworld.This imageislushandfilledwithsexuality,thepose,thewhip,thecup,thebindingsonthearms,theveins andmuscles...hereIwilldoawaywiththepropsbutretaintheposeandthetensioninthemusculature.

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SHOT6.2 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f4whichwillrequireaslowshutterspeed Light(s): Continuouslightthroughdiffuser,leftofcamera Continuouslightwithhoneycomb,pointingatbackground Other: Blackbackground Blackflagonbothsidesofmodel Tripod

WilliamEtty

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40282057@N00//

Unattributed,fromTumblr

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ThodoreGricault

ThodoreGricault'snudesaremostlynothingspecialbuttheshapeofthebodyinthisonestandsout forme,it'slikecapturedmotion.Thenearlyexposedcrotchmanagestosaymorethananactualnude soIaimtoconveythiswithoutresortingtoclothing.

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SHOT6.3 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f5.6whichwillrequireaslowshutterspeed Light(s): Continuouslightthroughdiffuser,leftofcamera Other: Blackbackground Blackflagonbothsidesofmodel Tripod

JohnConstable

ThodoreGricault

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WilhelmvonGloeden

WilhelmvonGloeden'sworkis,bytoday'sstandards,alittlerisque.Manyoftheimagesshownude boyswhoarebarelyintopubertysoIcan'tworkwiththem!Thisoneisinterestingforitsopenness which,unlikeFreud'swork,isalmostinvitingtheviewerin.

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SHOT6.4 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f8which,withtheextralight,shouldallowamoderateshutterspeed Light(s): Continuouslightthroughdiffuser,leftandrightofcamera Other: Whitebackground Blackflagonbothsidesofmodel Tripod

RobertMapplethorpe

http://www.flickr.com/photos/imageconceptualist

Botticelli

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SergeyLarionov

Itisraretoseeimagesofnudestouchingthemselves.Whentheydoitisusuallyfor'modesty'which spoilsthewholenuditything.Idon'tintendtocopythisposeexactlybutIdohopetoworkwiththe stretchedneckandchestgrasping.

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SHOT6.5 Date: Model: Location:

Variablecamerasettings f8which,withtheextralight,shouldallowamoderateshutterspeed Light(s): Continuouslightthroughdiffuser,cameraleft Barndoorsoncontinuouslight,rightofmodel Other: Greybackground Whiteflagonleftsideofmodel Tripod

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nathantia/

RobertMapplethorpe

HenriMatisse

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ArnoBreker

AnotherpiecebyBreker,thisoneverydifferentfromhisothers.Whatseemsimportanthereisthe stretchingofthebodywhichgivesitbothstrengthandvulnerability.

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