Agreed that I don't really care for the contorted body look. I really like Ralph Gibson's work and the notion of isolating body parts and "deconstructing" the human form. I'm working with a similar subject and finding just how hard the nude can be (no pun intended).
I also prefer the stark background to a crumpled appearance. I think the crumpled or textured background has to be used very carefully or it detracts attention from the subject.
Just a few points. In my last roll I wanted to use natural lights and hard shadows. I found that to truly integrate the shadows you have to be extremely meticulous with composition or else the image looks sloppy or haphazard. Ralph Gibson is a master. Check out his work for effective use of shadows and the nude. I also really like Marc Koegel's nude work.
I only have a few minutes, so I'll give my .02 on a couple of your shots.
#1 I don't really care for the centered vertical subject. The sidelighting isn't very flattering for the subjects skin texture. I think in this case the crumpled sheets detract from the subject and they appear OOF, particularly to the left side. I like a soft look but the OOF sheets to left appear haphazard to me.
#2 Again I don't care for a centered vertical subject. For me, the contorted nude should capture and exploit the sensuous lines of the human form and that's hard to do with a hard vertical.
#3 See above for my feelings about the hard vertical. The near arm immediately draws my attention. It is lighter and the soft focus doesn't add anything. It isn't a very flattering view of her arm and because of it's prominence it keeps drawing my eye back. The sheets in the background are distracting.
#5 I don't like the crop and the busy pattern of the sheets is distracting.
#9 is my favorite but I don't like the crop at the bottom. I'd like to see a little more separation between her leg and the background toward the right side of the image.
I'm finding that particularly in the nude studies the photographer has to be extremely meticulous about every detail within the frame. Backgrounds, sheets, shadows, wrinkles in the underwear, etc etc. The devil is in the detail. I was talking to my teacher about this very thing and he said that this attention to MINUTE detail is what separates the Gibsons and Westons from all the other hacks.
Hope all that helps.
Keep at it!
Idk if you read the description of the set, but anyways, I actually don't like Body I, III, IV, and not much of VI. Also, these are not beauty shots, so if the skin's true nature is revealed, that's fine. Another thing, I don't know if you read wrong but it wasn't my idea to do 'contortion', it was, however, what my classmates "wanted to see". I like doing some minor twists to show muscles beneath the skin, but that's about it.
It didn't start out as a nude project but I guess has evolved into it, and for my final portfolio I shall reshoot the compositions I feel need work, whether to make them nudes or for compositional reasons. For example, bodies II & V, I will definitely do over.
My favorites are IX, X, & XI! Thank you for your insight and feedback! Everyone.
Tomorrow, like I said, I'll be shooting one more roll, I have two new prints that I will bring home as well, and scan and show you guys soon!:thumbup:
Also, SoonerBJJ, it's kind of embarassing but I blocked you on Flickr cuz I thought you were a creeper.:blushing::lmao: But I see you're not, so I'll unblock. Lol.:blushing::blushing::blushing:
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