tomtomtom

<p>Yeah, sometimes my wife is much better at interacting with folks than I am -- my mind is swirling with the image, getting the lighting right, etc. But most photo books talk about spending some TIME with the person -- if it's not a paid model, or if they have many hours allocated, they will sit and get to know the person for as much time as they can, up to an hour. Even five minutes is good, so that you aren't this stranger with a camera. This will ease YOUR mind up, as well. </p>

<p>I recommend the book, <i>SESSIONS</i>, by Norman Seeff. He actually lists the text of him talking to famous folks and putting them at ease!</p>

<p>To your point, Jenny, men ARE way harder to photograph. Most photographs people like are harsher lit craggy ones, or edgy sepia stuff, like Corbijn, D'Orazio or maybe Lindbergh. If you're talking nudes, that's even HARDER, and perhaps the only person that's pulled that off was Mapplethorpe, and he did it by shaving the guys can making them look more sculptural and smooth (i.e. more feminine).</p>

<p>So as you try to do more difficult photography, you're probably less at ease, and that translates to the subject...</p>

<p>Anyway, so to sum this up -- talk to the model for five minutes as a person, don't rush into the shoot. Make the transition to the shoot natural, and chilled out, still talking, and start taking candids a bit, dismiss their importance. But in your mind, start heading toward the shots you want, and kind bring them up in conversation... that should make things seem more natural.</p>

Many eloquent points here. I think obviously nudes are a classic subject, a study on both what it is to be human and also often an exercise in sculptural composition. Nudes can grow prurient, and while sex is a perfectly valid photographic subject, some folks just get kicks posting photos of their GF/BF.

All of that said, I am utterly against censorship of images, as Jenny said. It is silly to separate nude images from other images on a site intended for photographic critique. Edward Weston's nudes are the same compositionally as his photos of a pepper. Jenny also mentions having to take down images because of jerks using this site as a another place to fail to pick up women. My photo bud Angela has had the same reaction -- you try to express your art and get honest critique, and adolescent idiots comment not on that but how "hot" you are or something.

I had a disappointing time in Austin a few months ago, where I met a woman who ran a photo studio once, then met her new boyfriend who was into photography. I shared some light painting nudes with them for their opinions, and she asked the guy what he thought about the lighting on her face. He said, "I ain't lookin' at her face."

It's kind of frustrating to pursue your art in a forum with these kinds of attitude. But, like nude images, you can't filter people out either. All we can do is develop e-photo friends that are here to comment honestly on art, and try to avoid the little boys.