My Shoot

For the content of this shoot, I wanted my model to have the most respect and privacy she deserved. - Therefore I arranged this shoot to be done in a private, heated room.

I personally am very pleased with this shoot. My model looks beautiful, relaxed and I got exactly what I wanted.

I used a plain, white background for this shoot as I wanted my model to be the entire focus. 

I also used two broncola lights with one pack and a soft-box on each light. 

These images were taken using a bronica camera, with a standard lens at F.8, and an even background reading of F.11. 

Quite a few of these images had a few dots and scratches on, which I can only presume happened when I processed the negs.

Also, a few photos that I tried printing looked ok on the contact sheet, but under an enlarger were slightly out of focus. The nearest I could get was a focus that looked a little soft. It wasn't 'crystal clear', which I was really dissapointed about.

I found choosing one final image really difficult. I printed five of my favourite's, and ended up getting stuck between a choice of two.

I was really inspired by the famous Demi Moore magazine shot and a fashion based, pregnant magazine cover, by Christina Aguilera.

I wanted to show the idea that being pregnant is beautiful and natural. - But that the model is still her own person.

The printing of my two favourites;

'Naked Beauty' - Demi Moore inspired;

Final Print

'Yummy Mummy' - Fashion Magazine / Celeb Cover inspired

Final Print

Personally, I think this image reflects more of the message I intended. I love this photo!

Other favourite images I've printed;

(I aim to print more but these are what I've managed so far)

Research; The Naked & The Veiled - The Photographic Nudes of Blumenfield

I really liked some of the images within this book. I found the photos of these women really interesting, due to the variety of effects used, whilst keeping the perception of intimacy and sensuality.

I loved how this image oozed elegance but had strong femininity and sexuality. The strong make-up enhances her natural beauty and gives the impression that she is proud. The way in which her arms and hands are gently draped highlight this idea of elegance. They look very delicate and perfectly poised.

This material that is draped over her body may represent an idea of protection. This white material which looks like the material used for a brides veil, (veil, linking to the title) could imitate the idea of virginity and the unveiling of her body on her wedding night.

This image is very secretive. The strong shadows darken the background and most of her body, making you use your imagination as to what her body may look like. The mid-tones show most of the outline of her figure, giving this dark image shape. The highlights define her curves, bone structure, muscle tone and the smoothness of her skin. The way the background morphs into her body, giving a shadow in the center of her figure, seperating the front and back of her body, makes this image have a kind of abstract view.

The use of a white background, emphasizes the mid-tones of the main subject. - The body. The contrasting shadows of what looks like a mesh or barbed wire of some sort, placed in front of the light, gives an idea that this body needs or wants protection. This effect also gives the body texture and helps illustrate her slender, feminine frame.

This image looks really reserved and secretive. The darkness of this photo makes it quite mysterious as you cannot see her body or face fully. The round circles of light, revealing the outline of her figure, may represent the way in which she has been put under the spotlight. The way her body is positioned, looks as if she is maybe nervous or shy about her body being exposed. The camera position of this shot, is slightly below the central point of the photo, making us look down at her, giving a sense of vulnerability.

Research; Women by Women

With this book, i looked into the general view to photographing nudes and how it made the models and photographers feel. - Does it make the model feel different being photographed by another woman? Do the images have a different feel to them? - Being a female photographer, wanting to photograph a female nude myself, i felt that this was important to look into.

This famous, iconic photo of the gorgeous Marilyn Monroe inspired me a lot with the idea of the natural look.

Although Marilyn has lipstick on, it looks as if she could have just woken up or be the after look from being devoured. By being naked in bed makes Marilyn herself and this image ooze sex appeal. Every woman wants to look and feel sexy.

The strong highlights create a halo, or outline around Marilyn, whilst highlighting the creases on the sheet which is delicately draped over her body. The curves and smoothness of her body are also highlighted, such as her arm and the curve of her breast etc.

The mid-tones define the curves of her body, whilst the shadows give the image depth and texture.
The bright light comes in from the left of the image, this could be natural daylight from a window or a single light from one side in a studio.

This image of this pregnant female is beautiful. The pink tones to the image make her face and body glow and look really healthy. The pink tint could also represent that the female may be carrying a baby girl.
The female is looking away from the camera making the image look more natural and unposed. The way in which she holds her arms not only cradles her bump, but they are in the position of cradling a baby to her chest. This may suggest she is longing to meet her child. Her hair and make-up look very natural, just like her being nude. - In the natural form. The white material behind her that she's sitting on is ruffled to give texture. The material and background may be white to represent purity, cleanliness and innocence.

This is a mid-shot of a female perhaps walking from or to a studio set-up, or maybe even walking around her house/bedroom.

The light seems to be perhaps one soft-box lighting from the left angle of the shot, judging by the highlights on her arm, breast, hand and hip. This lighting smooths the skin and draws attention to the curves of her body.

The mid-tones define her curves and the muscles. You can see this by her shoulders and the top of her back, which then directs your gaze down the arch of her back to the curve of her bum. Making you, the viewer take in all of her and this image. Seeing a curvy, sexy woman worthy of being admired.

Her expression looks natural and unaware of the camera, making us an observer of her and also giving a slight voyeuristic approach.

This photo gives the impression that this lady has just got out of the shower. The darkness of her hair makes it look as if it could be wet, the white material that's slightly in view looks like a towel and also, the obvious concept, that she is nude.
Although the darkness of her hair is a huge contrast to the mid-tones which smooth her skin, this image has quite subtle highlights, drawing attention to her shoulder, arm, her lips and face which are all erogenous zones, giving this image a sensual outlook to it.

This image has a voyeuristic feel to it, where the female looks unaware of the camera. Being nude and on her bed, she may have been intimate or is due to be intimate with someone.
A female body is linked to beauty and curves and this position shows most of this. The way her back is strongly arched in a perfect curve into the small of her back, to me was the first focus point. It is also strongly highlighted smoothing her skin and adding to this motion of curvature. Your eyes then gaze to her round, pert breasts which are a sensual part to a females body. The mid-tones highlight the texture of her hair and the muscle definition of her stomach and hips. - Another sensual area. The shadows give the image depth.

Research; Auto Focus

Within this book i found a couple of things that grabbed my attention on the representation of women. Not only pregnant women but women in general.

The article below states about this artist using food within her image to crudely represent different parts of the female, as too many 'images of "woman" bombard us - sexy women, pouty women, rich women, fulfilled women.'

- This image above by Julie Pochron states that women are beautiful and delicious. 

- These images above do not just represent the female and her bump as a sign of beauty and change, they represent the desire to have children with the process and the sensuality of physical contact relationships have.

This image below i loved! I loved the fact this female shows that she's still her own character. Just because she is pregnant, it doesn't change who she is as a person. - Just her figure.

At first i thought the hand gesture was towards the rules and regulations you're apparently meant to follow whilst being pregnant, the 'do's and don'ts', which would link to the cigarette. However after reading the article, i found out that this hand gesture was due to the constant touching of her belly from people without her consent. 

Perhaps the cigarette represents something she does, but has given up temporarily whilst she's pregnant, which would explain why it isn't lit.

The lighting i would say is perhaps daylight from her window on the right hand side of the photo, due to having bold highlights on that side, central mid-tones and shadows on the left. 

Research; Fred Aufray

I was really interested with these images for my own project. Not only are they made in a studio, but they are of pregnant women that still look beautiful as a women, not just because they are carrying a child.
I would like to represent this idea of female beauty and body/life changing experience within my own images.
I also like how these images are quite neutral in tone. The plain background makes you focus entirely on the female and her body. Where the lighting is so soft, it almost looks as if this could be a drawing or painting. - As if this female is a work of art.

This first image grabbed my attention, due to the fact her face was my first focus point, not her bump, which i presumed would be.

This female looks beautiful, confident and sexy. Everything a woman wants to look like, it just so happens that this woman is also carrying a child.

This idea of pregnancy is beautiful in a woman. Her curves are more defined and rounded, her skin glows and looks more healthy and she's making and giving life to another person, whilst still being herself and being her own person.

The way in which she covers herself, framing her bump, prevents any focus being taken away from her face.

This close-up shot focuses entirely on her child-bearing tummy. Her breast that's in view does not seem provocative in any way. It is simply a part of her nude body on show, which will also provide food for her baby. This image embraces the female curves and smoothness and beauty of her body and skin.

The grey mid-tones help smooth her skin and give a flawless, beauty look. The minimal highlights emphasize the curves to her body, whilst the shadows define and preserve her modesty.

This profile view of this female shows her full curves. - The slight view of the arch in her back, her hips, breasts, bump and so on. This profile view almost reflects the 'S' or hourglass figure a female normally has.

This females pose almost represents a flower in the way she is on the floor and her head is facing down. - Just like a flower, her body is growing and changing to have a beautiful result. 

The mid-tones makes her skin look flawless, whilst the shadows and minimal highlights emphasize her curves. (Not only the obvious curves, but even the curves of her skin. - Her collarbone and shoulder, and the natural curve around her ribs/waist onto her stomach in the way she's sitting.

Research; Nude Pregnancy - Magazine Covers

Due to me wanting to have my model as the main focus point, with a plain background in my image, I looked at some old, famous magazine covers. 

Although they are fashion-like poses, they still capture the mother-to-be's beauty and own personality, as well as her baby bump.

This image is by photographer Annie Leibovitz, that graced the August 1991 issue of Vanity Fair, illustrating a famous movie star beautifully bursting with life and proudly flaunting her body.

At this time, this image was an instant culture buster. The audience were full of constipated critics, cranky subscribers and fidgety news stand buyers, who the editors and publishers surely knew would regard a pregnant female body as "grotesque and obscene." Demi Moore's hand bra helped to elegantly frame the focal point of this dramatic symbol at that time of female empowerment. To me, this image is a brave, stunning work of art for that time, which conveyed a message that challenged a restraint society.

Monica Belluci also posed naked for Vanity Fair, in protest against restrictive new laws regarding fertility treatment in Italy.

The actress poses against a tree supporting the idea of 'natural beauty'. The way her hand holds her bump emphasizes the curves of her body along with the arch of her back.

Her arm which is draped across her chest directs the focus point to her bump, which is the main point to the photograph.

This magazine cover is more recent. This image still strongly reflects the mother to be (Christina Aguilera) own personality and style. The make-up and leather jacket is very fashionable, just like herself. Although she is carrying a child, she is still her own person. Christina is presenting that being pregnant is beautiful and by her facial expression and pose, being pregnant can still make a woman sexy and admirable.

The way the light highlights down the center of her body, draws attention to all her curves. For example, the highlight on her neck, reveals her collarbone, the second highlight is on and to the side of her breast, the light then spills onto her bump, emphasizing the roundness and smoothness of her tummy, then the final highlight on her skin is near her hand, highlighting her hip bone. This shows the contrast between how small her hips are in comparison to her bump.

This photograph of Myleen Klass is also very recent. She looks very dominant in the way she holds her posture. Her facial expression expresses that she is honored and proud of what she's achieved. - To be carrying a child. Her skin has a very healthy, peachy glow to it, as does her face. This may be due to the idea of that when a woman is pregnant, she 'blossoms'. The minimalist use of make-up, highlights the idea of the natural form. Also with being nude, not only is it natural but it represents the way we come into the world, as will her baby when the time comes.

The way Myleen is standing, the viewers focus entirely on her bump. Her pose also gives an 'S' shape to her figure, similar to the popular and admirable hourglass shape every woman aims to or wants to have generally.

Research; Rineke Dijkstra

These set of images are portraits of women after giving birth. Although this wasn't what i personally wanted to capture with my own work, i found them very interesting and helpful to study.
They seem to capture the natural beauty and process of the female body. To be nude, in the original, natural form with a baby of which they have made and brought into the world, is very beautiful and expresses emotion by the models facial expression and posture.

I like how the image above shows the hourglass figure of the woman in her natural form. The way in which she cradles her child close to her chest, shows her love and motherly instinct of protection.
The plain background makes the lady and her baby the main focus point of the image.
The pink tones to her cheeks reveal a healthy glow and/or most probably the strenuous ordeal she's been through by giving birth.
Although the lady looks as if she has a blank expression, her glistening eyes reveal love and happiness.

With this lady, her baby is cradled in her arms feeding from her breast. Revealing this beautiful, natural process, continuing after birth. - Getting nutrition directly from the mothers body.

The mothers facial expression seems as if she's slightly bewildered. Overwhelmed by the whole process her body's been through and the life changing experience to follow.

The blood running down the inside of her leg is slightly disturbing. Revealing to me that she's literally just given birth. And personally, i feel awkward looking at the blood as she should be resting with her new-born child.

This expresses the hidden truth to giving birth. It's not easy-going and pretty, but it is natural and has a beautiful out-come.

Brief & First Ideas

To make a Portrait of either an individual from the local community who lives or works in the Medway towns, or a member of Staff or a Student from another course, from University of the Creative Arts.

- They have to be unknown to you
- Must be shot in a studio
- Black & White
- Medium or Large Format


First Ideas / Scribbles & Notes;