Near & Far

Although nearly 50% of this photo is a nude female it is not really

a nude in the usual sense and despite the remainder being a

coastal scene it does not have the typical composition of a

landscape. When I took it I was struck by the shape of her legs

exactly reflecting the distant island, their deep shadows echoing

those of the rocks of the headland, their colour matching the

warm rocks in the evening sun and the bright reflections from

her hairs and skin dazzling like the sun-trace on the sea. It

seemed to represent in an abstract way the harmony of humanity

and nature. What do you think?

very beautiful.. underlying nostalgia

I also like the echoing of the distant land formation. the light reflecting on the skin as it does on the water. well seen.

 

Knicki

Wow! She is part of the landscape. Very nice.

 

-James

the human form is captured well within the natural confines of the landscape...love how the light captured the fine detail of skin and hair

This has to have been your long-suffering wife. Who else would get this chilled for you?

 

Great shot; I wonder if digital would have been able to handle the contrast?

You're right on both counts. But it wasn't cold in the sun - she had just been swimming. Re the digital question: it was my worry also having used compacts for a year or so (Olympus & Canon) so I have just got a Fuji S3 which does a good job with dynamic range - it seems to be as good as slide film at least. Best wishes, Jonathan.

Wonderful skin exposure,great title, As for the composition, I might prefer less busy background.

 

Thank You for your extensive comment on my image Ode to life. I must beckon, most of these images in my folder are made during my first day of Nude photography. I have to learn a lot.

 

cheers Jana

LVery clever, a landscape within a landscape, beautiful shot I love it.

 

Jonathan, I sent you an email, you may not have seen it.

 

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, John

I love this shot!

I think her shape fits nicely into the landscape into one. Those legs can be easily taken as 'rocks' on the beach ( no offence, just from an abstract thinking). Unique landscape presentation yet a subtle nude. I am confused alrady ^o^

Nice and interesting to study... I'm not sure but perhaps this could have turned even better, but only IF... if it was possible for you to keep the same light on her body, but with her body a few meters more to the left. Basically, I find the right part of the background a bit busy and would have thought of a more minimalistic approach... perhaps just keeping in the frame the far left rock and the far away island... and her body of course... perhaps in a square format, not sure... Was something like this possible at all that day in this location ? Regards.

Thank you for your comment and ideas.

I have to admit that I did not set up the picture at all - it is more an objet trouvé. She was lying on the warm smooth rock to dry after a swim so I took the photo without disturbing her. I chose the angle to include the sun-trace on the sea and the reflections from the wet rocks as a kind of echo of the brighter and softer highlights on her skin, in addition to the more obvious echo of the shape of her legs.

The simpler composition you had in mind would probably have more immediate impact but I personally like the idea of greater complexity, which takes some time to become apparent.

This is one of a series of photos taken over the summer of 1975 when we spent most of our time (when not working) on this uninhabited part of the coast - see my "Wembury" presentation.

Best wishes, Jonathan

"I chose the angle to include the sun-trace on the sea and the reflections from the wet rocks as a kind of echo of the brighter and softer highlights on her skin, in addition to the more obvious echo of the shape of her legs."

 

Yes. Which you did very successfully because I had felt this when first seeing this picture. As for the rest of this presentation/folder, I have seen it a long time ago and even remeber commenting on some of its pictures... But I thought there was something interesting to study on this particular picture's composition. Best regards.

Fantastic composition and title . Interesting . Regards Dan .

For me it is "Nudescape", completely agree with your thought on the harmony of the humanity and the nature by the representation of the naked body. There is of the Lucien Clergue in some of your photos Jonathan. The sunlight which falls on the skin and brings to light details and her bronzing is just wonderful ! Best regards, Frédéric.

Yes I also appreciate his work, much of which was taken around the same time as I started - though I only found out about it later.