For the Ladies…An Opportunity to Photograph Fine Art Nudes
Based on feedback, Samantha and I have decided to make a change to the upcoming Nudes in the Landscape workshop. We’re changing the second day, Sunday August 14, 2011 to a ‘Ladies Only’ day. After talking about the workshop to various photographers, we realized that there is a bias out there that only men photograph nude women in this area of photography. Definitely that is where most of the images seem to come from, but that is also where our Gaia Nudes concept is vastly different: not only are we not photographing ‘sex’, but we are also not gender-biased in sourcing our models. Traditional fine art nude photography ranges from abstract studies of the human form to more glam, playful and sexual posing. Our workshop focuses on the former idea, with photographers working with both male and female models. We are also relatively unique in that, as landscape photographers, Nature is always our first love. How to fit and meld the human form into the landscape is the question of concern to us. We are not bringing props. Our models are not wearing high-heels (male or female), gobs of makeup or anything with fur, feather and leather.
So, if you are a female photographer who appreciates natural beauty, but are a bit intimidated or put off by the more er… titillating aspects of fine art nude photography, then this is your chance! Grab a girlfriend or two and come out to this exciting day. For the men, we do still have a spot or two available on Saturday, but don’t delay! You can register at our website, gaianudes.com
Who Is This Workshop For, Anyway?
On a broader note, you might be wondering who would benefit from a workshop such as this. The answer is any photographer who shoots portraits, weddings, boudoir, and yes, landscapes. The first three might be obvious, but why would a landscape photographer even consider attending a workshop such as Nudes in the Landscape? The answer is simple: most photographers who photograph nature appreciate beauty. Developing your visual muscle to recognize and capture the fine art aesthetic can only help in your landscape photography. Even more so if you find yourself in a rut and uninspired by your recent work. Sometimes, a change of scenery jumpstarts your creativity again and infuses new life into all of your photography. Not sure what the workshop entails? Well, we will be discussing:
- the use of natural light to illuminate the scene and the model
- compositional tips and tricks and how to work with the elements of visual design
- posing do’s and don’ts
- communicating your creative vision to the model.
So, if you are looking for ways to improve your photography, then join us for a fun, informal and creative day and learn how to appreciate beauty in new ways. Head to Gaia Nudes to view images of this style of photography.
June 2, 2011 at 12:18 PM
[…] workshop but are unsure if fine art nude photography is for them. We say it is! Head to Darwin’s blog to read why we saw a need for a special day and why even landscape shooters should consider this […]
June 2, 2011 at 1:15 PM
Great idea!
June 2, 2011 at 5:50 PM
A great concept for nudes! And I think it will be a great opportunity for the lady photographers! Something I have always wanted to do is photograph nudes, but like you stated it tends to be gender biased and sexual, so I’ve been hesitant to do so. I will offer this bit of feedback I’ve received from female models on other projects when they realized they were going to be working with a female photographer instead of a male. This exact thing was said to me “Whew am I glad to see a woman photographer. Men have a hard time understanding that a my body doesn’t bend that way!” That being said Go for it Ladies! I’m sure the workshop lead by Darwin & Samantha will be top notch and a great creative innovative experience!
June 4, 2011 at 8:19 PM
Thanks Audra for the vote of confidence. I think photographers will be pleasantly surprised by how fun and creative this form of photography is!
Darwin
June 10, 2011 at 12:41 AM
Hey Darwin and Sam:
I just wanted to share the work of two photographers who blend beautifully nude and the landscape:
http://www.daveaharonian.com/gallery.php?catid=33
http://www.birnbachfigureworks.com/
Have a great workshop!
June 16, 2011 at 11:28 AM
[…] your creative vision, compositional tips and techniques and essential equipment, and we have a Ladies Only day specially set aside for female shooters who appreciate comraderie and company in learning new forms […]