nude photography recommendations

[puketronic]

OK so I've been interested in nudes lately. I do not know much about this subject but I would like to start by observing some work of the "great" photographers, if there are any. Similar to the status of HCB for street, Avedon for Portraits/fashion, etc. I don't mean to copy their work because that would be boring. I would just like to understand this subject a bit better, perhaps adapt some concepts.

So far I like the work of herb ritts, so I was wondering what are some other photographers that are similar to this. With nudes, I'm not so much into erotic but something more graceful.

[cliveh]

I don't mean to copy their work because that would be boring.

No, that would be a starting point. Look at the nudes by Andre Ketesz.

[Alan W]

I don't know about graceful,but I've always liked Bill Brandt.A different take.

[rhcgn]

have a look at Jock Sturges' work

[puketronic]

Oh and I don't mind nude photographers with different styles. I might change my mind.

I didn't like wide angles but then I stumbled upon Jeanloup Sieff (21mm shooter). I like his nude work too, but for different reasons. My tastes change.

[Chazzy]

I've always thought of Ruth Bernhard as the Ansel Adams of nudes. Maybe others see her differently.

[winger]

In one weekend several years ago, I saw nudes from Lee Friedlander and Edward Weston - VERY different. I doubt I'll ever shoot nudes, but seeing the difference was interesting. I agree that looking at ones you don't like can help you to figure out why you don't like them and what to avoid doing.

[Poisson Du Jour]

Graceful, abstract or interpretive? Stylised, straight or textbook? Masters may make it look easier, but the biggest problem I have observed is photographers not getting along with nude models. The photographer should also be a nude.

Try photographing either gender by a window with venetian blinds and the sun coming through. If you like zebra strikes, this simple and effective nude/interpretive/abstract affect has many, many angles to explore. Very especially with dark-skinned subjects.

[jnanian]

several years ago
a fellow named frank petronio posted
in a similar thread on the large format photography forum.
he suggested the perspective nude photographer
go to a school art class, and model nude
for a life drawing class.
he does a lot of nude photography with models &c
but posed for a class so he could know what that sort of vulnerability
was like, because posing nude for a camera is exactly like that.

good luck !
john

[dpurdy]

Irving Penn, Harry Callahan, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Weston, Bret Weston, all have great nude work.