Genital Photography: Can It Ever Be Considered Art?

“Art-porn“, “erotic bodyscapes”, “edgy art nude”. There are so many names for it, but in general it amounts to the same thing: close-ups, usually labial, featuring “arty” strawberries, “sensual“ flowers, “fun” Skittles, or god-forbid, the “edgy” tiny lego-men. Ubiquitous on DeviantArt and usually prompting a disbelieving headshake at something that seems at best porn and at worst extremely uncomfortable to look at.

Except that by chance, I came across some images that broke the mould. While I think that with the exception of those horrendous doctors’ stock pictures, genital photography almost always has to be considered erotic, I wondered if it could ever be seen as artistic too.

It’s a standing joke that you can take any photograph of a naked woman, convert it to black and white and call it art-nude, but there is a bit of truth there; taking the colour out of an image often prevents it from being garish. (Though that could still be achieved with muting the tones or converting the picture to sepia). Keeping an eye on the colour is definitely a good idea- let’s face it, whether we’re porcelain, ebony or any of the many shades in between, our bodies have parts that can look a bit scary and red (and even blue, depending on where your veins are) close up!
Still, black and white is a matter of colour balance, not the kiss of life for a bad picture! In my opinion, to give genital photography a chance at being viewed as artistic, there must be another quality about the image that draws the eye, besides its subject matter.


While searching for images to illustrate this piece with, I have now seen far more photographs of genitals than one person ever needs to see (!) As a nude model, I am unfazed by nakedness, but I still found that being confronted with a large screen-filling technicolour penis before I’ve had a coffee is a bit jarring! Certainly in this woman’s opinion, if it is immediately obvious what the subject matter is, then the brain registers little other than the fact that the photograph is explicit. There are so many textures and lines in the "down below" areas that creating an image based around shape can be achieved in a multitude of ways- it just requires the photographer to use their imagination.

 Something else that I think can work well is juxtaposition (which is a great word that does not get used often enough!) Photographers and artists do it all the time- we’ve all seen the classic “woman’s body photographed from behind next to cello” picture, and I recently saw “woman’s hips next to pear”! Give the viewer another object to compare or contrast with (the first person to suggest a vegetable has to look through my photo research “reject pile”!) as it can not only add interest, but narrative as well.

Traditional artists have painted and drawn the genitals for a long time, and been called artists (look at certain Neolithic sculptures- and more recently, Georgia O’Keeffe’s flower paintings)- but it’s a little easier to convince the public that the thing on the wall in front of them is indeed “art” when it‘s a historical artefact, or a depiction of some petals at first glance! With the medium of photography, it is far more of a challenge… but in my opinion, something that can be achieved providing  the challenge is accepted!


ROSWELL



Image credits:
1) Turhi
2) Jemiro
3) Altering Reality
NB: The "images that broke the mould" are by Ekaterina Zakharova. As I have not received permission in writing to publish her images, I have linked to her profile above instead.

Welcome Britalicus

Bending nude: a contrast lighting study. 
Model: Raphaella

It's been a while since we posted but today it is our pleasure to feature the photography of Britalicus, who hails from Edinburgh, Scotland.

"I was given my first camera at about the age of eight and knew instantly then that photography was something special. To be able to capture a moment, a feeling, an emotion, was something that I felt was possible, and so it has remained with me since, but capturing that special and perfect image remains just as elusive today as it did then.

      Bow: a pose to create symmetry. Model: Katy Cee                 

After many years of photographing landscapes, portraits, and events, as very much an amateur photographer, I ventured into artistic nudes in January 2010, my wife, I’m glad to say, being very supportive of the idea. 

Once passed the ‘how do you find a model?’ stage, it was a case of finding an approach to the subject with which I felt comfortable. 

It’s plain there are many different approaches to photographing the nude female form, but for me respect for the beauty and integrity of the model comes very high on the agenda in addition to the creation of an artistic image.

Dance: a shot from a dance shoot using fabrics to create shapes in contrast to the models.
Models: Katy Cee, and Kayleigh Lush

EdinburghCastle: the well known landmark of Edinburgh Castle and a cloudy sky used as a backdrop to this rooftop shot. 
Model: Katy Cee

Modern dance and classical ballet have been a strong influence on my shoots. 

I am fascinated with the shapes and forms that can be created in this art form, all too fleetingly, especially when emphasised by contrasting stage lighting. It will continue to be an underlying theme of my work, and has also influenced the choice of models with whom I have worked, many of them having formal dance training and experience. It is also probably why I have a preference for monochrome, this giving emphasis to the captured shapes and forms, focusing the eye on line, light, and shadow, and coming from the age of Tri-X film a reason why I like contrasty shots. 

I treat external location work with caution as I think shooting outside risks being clichéd. However, a location with a strong photographic identity in its own right can add significantly to an image provided that model and location are integrated as one in the composition.

Horse and nude: an early morning shoot on Camber Sands, Kent, using the wide open space to contrast with model and horse. The underlying desire was to create a level of romanticism. 
Model: Kayleigh Lush

Model: Iveta Niklova

Model: Iveta Niklova

Model: Kayleigh Lush

Nearly two years on from my first shoot, a solo exhibition and a magazine spread and publications behind me, together with a website that regularly attracts visitors from around the world, I do not see my desire diminishing to try new concepts as well as developing on existing. In doing so I can, hopefully, get somewhere closer to capturing those elusive moments, those fleeting shadows, that I perceived all those years ago in the days of my youth!"

Kayleigh: posed to create a symmetry. 
Model: Kayleigh Lush

Thank you Britalicus! We wish you well in your future work.  Anyone interested in viewing his latest work please visit his website

                                                                                              

Raphaella: a pose to show the model’s flexibility.
Model: Raphaella

Thonet Rocking Chair: a pose to reflect the shapes in the chair. Shot with natural light.
Model: Raphaella

Gavin Bell's interview

"Quite often I may run inside and grab my camera to shoot something, inspired by how light falls across it (an insect, a flower, my kids, a sunset)." Gavin Bell

" I am inspired by the photographers of old... The nudes of Ruth Bernhard, the surealism of Man Ray, the detail of Ansel Adams, the simplicity (and complexity) of Harry Callahan...

I like the way shadow falls across a face, the body... ...the texture of stone, of bark on a tree...

I like to shoot in Black White film and the grain of a silver gellatin print, the solitude of a darkroom, the control of a studio...

Moreso I like meeting and shooting interesting people to capture interesting images..."

"Statue of Jennie"

"Beauty treatment"

" ... a behind the scenes image... I think she was in shock when she saw herself !" Gavin Bell




Gavin, could you tell us how did your passion for photography begin ?

I started photography as a distraction after my father died. The more I learnt, the greater the hunger. My first art nude was a copy shot of Man Ray’s Le Violin d’Ingres with my wife. Then it became a ‘runaway train’. I was addicted to the whole process, the planning, the directing, the problem solving, post production, all with the aim to produce an image to be proud of.

"Dusk"
Art Model Dollybeck

"This was taken in the middle of a vinyard at sunset. I have tried options of BW and sepia, but lose the sunset effect."

After your father's death... The way for creation is so strange. And did you learn your art somewhere ?

Most of my technical knowledge and influences came from the Centre for Creative Photography here in Adelaide, South Australia. It is a great melting pot of fine art photographers of every genre. I am still learning and self evaluate after a shoot of what I could have done better as well as welcome critique from others. Hopefully I never stop learning and my photography continually evolves and improves.

"The Red Rose"
Art Model Isobella

An artist never stops learning... Is it your only job ?

Photography is a hobby (although my wife would call it an obsession). I am self employed in finance, which allows some flexibility when I shoot.


Talking about obsession, how long could you be far from your camera ?

Not far these days. Quite often I may run inside and grab my camera to shoot something, inspired by how light falls across it (an insect, a flower, my kids, a sunset). With digital photography a lot of spare time is also spent on Photoshop, playing with images.


Who are your favorite photographers ?

My favorite would be Marc Riboud. I never tire of his images, the subject matter, the composition. I like the way Harry Callahan thinks. He was a master of composition, from the complexity to the simplicity. My favorite nude photographers would be Ruth Bernhard, a pioneer in figure studies and more recently Helmut Newton.

"Picture This"
Art Model Anne Duffy






"Things of Shade and Colour..."
Art Model Anne Duffy

You work on a wide range of themes. Could you define your style ? What do you prefer ?

Actually I try hard to work any many themes. My first choice of where to shoot would be the studio, regardless of the genre. In the studio my first choice would be an art nude. However, I love shooting portraits, fashion, etc. The process is the same, as is the model interaction. My first love is to produce an image with artistic merit. I was once referred to as a nude photographer and this didn’t sit well. I prefer to be known as a photographer… someone who can shoot any topic of any style with some degree of proficiency.










 













"Highlights"
Art Model Anne Duffy




 So, your photography isn't mostly nudes ?

Most of what is seen on online portfolios would be heavily weighted towards art nudes. I quite often shoot in both 35mm and Medium Format BW film of a broad range of themes. Rarely does this get scanned, preferring to develop with traditional processes. I think there is something special about film that doesn’t translate to a digital image.


Do you plan every details of your shootings ?

I usually start with an idea. When you shoot against a blank screen, there is little to inspire (other than the model) from the environment, as apposed to an outdoor shoot, where the scenery is part of the creative process. I usually have an idea of a lighting style, whether it is high key or low key. I quite often plan ideas for days ahead of a shoot, but once I am in the studio it becomes more organic. Once I see how the light falls across the model ideas come quite quickly. I encourage the model to contribute to bring out their personality.

"Soaking Up The Sun"
Art Model Dollybeck

Hi all, "I have worked with Gavin and wanted to let you know that he is extremely professional in his work and trustworthy. He is both creative and fun to work with !!" Donna






"The Stable"
Art Model Dollybeck

Some words about your models ?

With art nudes there has to be trust for the model to be comfortable. I have a great deal of respect for all the models I shoot who have placed faith in me to produce an image that shows them in the best light. More importantly, without the model I cannot practice my art, so they are the most valuable resource to me.

"Dream Catcher"
Art Model Peach

"Working with Gavin was a real pleasure and honour. Not only has he got great talent and comes up with interesting ideas, he let me have an input and use my own creativity, which not all photographers allow. I really enjoyed working with him and will certainly go back down to Adelaide before long! PS: Gav also makes the best pasta!" Peach, Sydney

How do you feel at the end of a shooting ? Tired, I presume.

Pretty exhausted – mentally and physically. My friends think it is glamorous, but I am constantly doing calculations of exposure and interpreting, lying on my belly for a particular angle or climbing a chair or ladder. Once I shot up to 2am, then was up for the morning light… whatever it takes to get that image.


Have you some challenges you're dreaming about ?

Always dreaming, always looking for a challenge ! I have a few ideas lined up for some art nudes. The challenge is to always shoot something different, to nail the perfect picture.

"Bella Dona"
Art Model Isobella

When and where will be your next exhibition ?

I have regularly exhibited some of my work at the Centre of Creative Photography. I would like to exhibit my work later this year, but no firm dates.

"Ottobresosso's"
Art Model Jodie

You'll tell us ! Have you published a book ? In magazines ?

I have no publications to date, but I would like to time a book with an exhibition.





 













"The Corset"





Received ! A message to send before we leave ?

Art nudes have been depicted since man could draw on caves. It has always been the fascination of both artists and the viewer throughout history with paintings and the evolution to photography is just an extension of this genre. The only difference is light and shadow is the paint and the camera is the brush.

When some people can’t discern art nudes from porn, this is usually spawned from ignorance. Sites such as yours is great for spreading art nudes to a wider community and it is exciting to be introduced to many fine artists and images that inspire and influence.

I agree, of course !!! And I'm deeply honoured dear Gavin !!! Thanks for playing the game !

"Diamonds"
Art Model Isobella

The portraiture of Nikola Borissov

Some outstanding portraits by Nikola Borissov.

"Svilena II 2"
Actress Svilena Kidess

"When You're Gone I"

" KK XI"

"J snapshot"

"Celeste X"
Actress and Model Celeste Thorson

"Vanya"

The nudes of Jorge Pedra

Jorge Pedra

Jorge Pedra, born in 1960 at Porto – Portugal, is a photographer and an architect.

Of his work he says:

I believe that, although photography is always somehow based on reality, every photograph is only partly objective, and is always an interpretation of that reality.

Most of my photography projects are experimental and can rarely be called documentary or even descriptive. I am always looking for an alternative technique, or a new aesthetic. This probably makes me a “user of photography” rather than a photographer. My main goal is to provoke an emotion, in a way that turns the picture into an art object.

Sometimes I use photography mingled with pictorial techniques to produce this art object, and I have frequently used painting over the prints, or over the slides or negative film.

I love photographing nudes. I’m not interested in glamour photography. Instead, I aim to make photographs with an intrinsic beauty in their formal and aesthetic aspects.

"Nude In Space" concerns the relationship, or the lack of that relationship, between a nude (always female) and an unpredictable space. There is no look; no communication between the model and the viewers.  The nudes are non-erotic...

 

Living Sculptures

My high school art teacher was a little eccentric, (which was a good thing and seems to be part of the job description for art teachers!) She helped students through personal projects that had nothing to do with the exam material, calmly reviewed proposals for twenty-foot high paintings, and was an expert at tackling students paralysed by artist’s block a week before the deadline.
One of my friends wasn’t happy with her work and on hearing her plea for inspiration, our teacher cried “but how can you be stuck- you’re a walking work of art!!!”
I could almost see the light bulb turning on in my friend’s head. Her subsequent self-portraits received an A.

Seeing the human body as a living sculpture isn’t exactly an original concept, or a difficult one for many photographers and models- the tricky part is often getting the viewer to see what you do.

For some people, the challenge is getting past the obvious:
“She’s naked.”
“That’s right- but look at the pose and the way her body is positioned. It is perfectly symmetrical- the light makes her curves even more pronounced…”
“But she’s naked!”
And on and on and on…

Making an impression on other artists is even more difficult as most have seen it all before at the very least. Many have tried it themselves. That’s where the lighting, positioning and imagination come in- especially inside a white box with- if the team is lucky- a cube or step for the model to pose on.
Not that shooting outdoor nudes is easy- it isn’t- but a lot of decisions are already made. On location there are infinite focal points, a change of scenery usually within a minute’s walk, a variety of things for the model to pose with, in, on or under- and there’s a nice round sun to help with the lighting decisions (or hinder them until five ‘o’ clock precisely when the light suddenly becomes perfect)!
A studio is literally a ‘blank canvas’. There are so many ways to treat the curves, angles, ripples, joints and plains that make up a human body, that such a project could last a lifetime- and that’s without factoring in models of different genders, colours and shapes!

It is while browsing studio nudes that I find I can identify the best of the art models- bizarrely, this is because shooting abstract or sculptural nudes often involves doing the opposite of what modelling usually entails! As a model, scrunching yourself into a ball may not feel like the most attractive position, but when photographed from the right angle the creases and awkwardness of the pose are hidden and instead, you resemble a smooth living stone.
Close-ups are often joked about- it is a daunting thing to see your elbow in all it’s wrinkly glory… but if the viewer sees amazing texture captured in an abstract shot, then you have earned your meals that day!
While it is lovely to be recognised in photos (“another wonderful shot posed by _______” is always nice to hear), hiding models’ heads instantly makes the photograph about the form, rather than the identity of the person posing and so sometimes it is better to shut egos away, keep our heads down, and hope to be recognised for our incredible knees!

There are only so many ways the human body can be arranged and so accidentally copying someone else’s pose is a nightmare of many models. (Trying to avoid this with experimental posing often results in some hilarious outtakes!) However, trying to invent a new pose- whether it can be done or not- and, in the case of abstract nudes, banishing your inner model (along with the ego) is what, in my opinion can make a great pose.

And when the aforementioned great pose is captured by an equally-great photographer? That’s when the magic happens…


ROSWELL



First image: "Underlap", by Matthew Scherfenberg. I love the marble-like appearance of the model's legs. (And could see this on a pedestal in a gallery!)

Second image: by Lightphile Studios. This is the definition of a "living stone". Beautiful pose.


Some more beautiful pictures:

3) by Keital.

This image reminds me of the yin/yang symbol in the way that the model (Anita de Bauch)'s face is shown in one reflection but not the other. If you look without trying to separate the reflection from the real image, the different curves and lines take on an abstract quality.















4) by Jose Manuel de Caso

I see so many photographs of swans taking this pose, but it didn't occur to me that models could! I really like the sensuality- even eroticism- of this image, without it being explicit.














5) by B L Photography

It is always fascinating to see the work of art-nude models when they are behind the camera! This photo is a self-portrait by nude model Brooke Lynne- and a great example of an unusual pose that works to great effect.













6) by Jose Manuel de Caso

I love the pose and the contrast of the model's body with the dark background. Proof that the model does not have to be contorted to produce a wonderful image!












7) by R Davidson

I did not know the human body could make a heart shape in so many ways! If you focus on the model's outline, you can almost see another heart shape!














8) by Franklin Photographs

I love the way the lighting emphasizes the muscles and shadows on the model's body- and the tension in her fingers and toes.
Comparing this picture to the one above, it's a good example of how a small change in pose can change an image entirely.








9) "Ear", by Matthew Scherfenberg.

This image seems simple at first glance but the longer I look, the more details I see- especially the changes in tone around the jawline and hair. Beautiful piece of art.