Naked v Nude

Social media can be the bane of our lives and can be detrimental to our mental health. However, it can serve as a useful tool when running a business, allowing us to connect with clients and to network with other groups and communities. Like I’m sure many photographers I have joined several groups/communities and often share recent work on them. Most of these groups can give helpful advice or critique if you ask for it, otherwise sharing my work and how I got the shot can be informative and educational for them.

I recently shared some art nude images in one group which is for female photographers only. I can and I do appreciate that nude photography is not for everyone, but I was not prepared for the backlash I received; the general view was I was exploiting the woman and sexualising her.

So this got me thinking on where do we all stand on nudes and are they Naked or Nude? Also is there a place for it in todays photographic world?

Naked or Nude????

exploitation???????

The naked human form has been depicted in art and sculpture for decades and today photography has become another art medium to be used especially by those who may not be able to express their creativity through the traditional methods of art.

But there is more to it than just having a naked person standing in front of you and taking a shot. To be that simple means it could become voyeuristic and there is little or no creativity.

To be at its best, photographers work with light and shadows to enhance the lines and the curves of the body. You need to build a rapport with your subject so you are both at ease and the creative process will put away any embarrassment. Using a camera means that unlike using a brush, the result is pretty instant and in that respect it can be more revealing and intimate.

It is because of the immediacy and its accessibility that nude photography has been abused and there are some who can and do use it to exploit their subject.

But there is a world of difference between creating art nude photography and simply taking a naked shot of your subject.

Human bodies are beautiful in whatever shape they come in and to photograph them sensitively and sensually can be that fine line between obscenity and vulgarity.

So is the argument “is it naked or nude”? Or “is it art or exploitation”?

Is it art???

To answer that would largely depend on your own perceptions and your views of naked/nude photography. We are all entitled to our own views and opinions and that is perfectly OK, but you should never put those opinions and views on someone’s work when they have not been asked for. If the subject matter is not for you move on.

In traditional art and sculpture we are viewing a representation of the human form so I suppose in that way we could argue it becomes acceptable to our ideals of nakedness. In photography it is real, so for some it then becomes unacceptable and exploitive. As photographers then who are creating art nude are there certain rules we should follow?

For me it comes down to the lighting, the posing, the narrative and the overall aesthetic feel of the imagery. In this way I feel I am creating art.

With the immediacy of photography and the rise in popularity in recent times of Page 3 glamour models, there can be a tendency to label art nude as glamour. For me here the distinction is that glamour photography is all about evoking a sexual response from the viewer and it then becomes salacious and gratifying for that viewer. Most are taken using high key lighting with titillating poses, direct eye contact to draw the viewer in and there is little about them that is art. Therefore do these become exploitive and sexualise the woman?

With art nude there is little or no eye contact so there is no drawing the viewer in - to put it simply it is all about the aesthetic quality and the beauty of the subject - and that subject could be male or female, it makes no difference.

Art critics hold the view that nude photography is a study of the human body and not the person and I agree with this to a point. With no direct eye contact and concentrating on the lines and the curves of the body, it becomes almost anonymous, not so much a person, but more a study of shapes using light. Portrait photography concentrates on bringing out the character of the subject and glamour photography is about the sexualisation of the subject for the gratification of the viewer. In some of my shots, I like some connection with the subject and the viewer, so sometimes I feel that eye contact is necessary for the narrative.

Taking it a step further, should the art nude image show female or male genitalia? If it does then surely this then becomes erotic photography with more sexual intent. (Breasts funnily enough are not erotic in that sense.)

While this discussion is going on let’s not forget the cultural implications of nudity and nakedness. By showing these images on social media we are further complicating the notion of the rights and wrongs of the image and that could be one reason that social media platforms have strict rules on what can and cant be seen. I may be in the UK but images I post could be seen via social media worldwide and anybody could happen on them accidentally. This is one reason my nude images are posted on my website. People can then choose to view or not.

So what does Wikipedia say about all of this?

“Fine art nude photography is a genre of fine art photography which depicts the nude human body with an emphasis on form, composition, emotional content and other aesthetic qualities….”

“Glamour photography is a genre of photography in which the subjects are portrayed in erotic, or sexually suggestive poses ranging from fully clothes to nude…”

“Portrait photography is a genre of photography aimed towards capturing the personality of a person or group of persons by using effective lighting, backdrops and poses…”

Naked or Nude??? What you think is down to your own personal views, cultural background and/or preferences and that is fine - we all have our own opinions and views on any aspect of photography in general.

Me personally, I am happy with what I am doing and there are many top, successful nude photographers who share the same view as I do but we do understand the fragility of the genre and allow people to scroll past and move on if they do not wish to see it.

One last point is that of exploitation - surely that means I am taking advantage or coercing the subject into levels they are not happy with?

Nothing could be further from the truth. Nude models do so willingly and cooperatively and creatively working with me to create art. None are under the age of consent and most are professional models who earn a living from doing so. They sign a model release form and know and understand where I will be using the images - is that exploitive?

And finally, here in the UK we have the Royal Photographic Society - a well renowned and respected establishment and if you look on their website they run course on Art Nude Photography…….

Laura x September 2022