The Art of Nude Photography - Taking Good Female Forms
by Tobias Sterling
People generally agree that the nude female form is more beautiful than the male. The arguments generally cited for this include that women have more curves and less obvious musculature, or that male bodies are more functional. Whatever the reason, couple it with the fact that (particularly historically) most artists are male, and you have a large preference in photography for nude photographs of women rather than of men.
What determines a quality nude female photograph? There are three main principles.
1 - It should be interesting, not vulgar to look at
Nude female photography falls into the category of "Fine Art." This means the image of the female form is captured and displayed in an interesting way. In order to achieve this, most photographers prefer black and white photography. This method allows for full light, shadow, shape and contrast to be achieved.
2 - It should be anonymous
Nude photography is not about the person in the photo. It is primarily about showcasing the female form. Therefore, in most nude photography the face is generally hidden. This is different from portrait photography as its main goal is to feature the person or display their personality. Nude photography utilizes the body as a general category, the category of "women's bodies."
3 - It should be non-sexual
Nude photography is an art form as it depicts the female form in interesting views for people to ponder upon the beauty of nature. There is a difference between nude photography and erotic photography with the latter having a purpose of titillating or arousing the viewer. While the difference between the two may be small, it is the intent of the photo that must be considered.
Because everyone's perception of what is sexual or non-sexual is different, many art photographers utilize the female genitals in shadows or contrast. By doing this, the focus remains on the artistic intent of the photo, thereby distinguishing it from erotic photography. Nude female photography is an art form to express the beauty of differences in nature.
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