Reclining Nudes...

[cyrus]

Remember the self-published LF book we had going which turned out to be such a nice project?

Well, I was thinking of of another similar project, but not limited to LFers - or even photography per se (could include painters, printmakers, digital artists, etc.) and limited to your interpretations of one of the oldest standard worn-out themes or icons in Western art: the reclining nude. Since it is a "cross-disciplinary" project, I thought I should start my own site to show it - RecliningNudes.com (http://www.recliningnudes.com).

I am in the midst of setting up the website right now -- have been fooling with color combinations, layouts, etc. as much as I know how. Soon, there will be an option for you to submit a photo (whilst retaining your own copyrights) along with whatever brief text you want to include with it (your bio, your "artistic statement" etc.) along with your contact/website link info. There will be a commenting and rating system. As a registered author you'll be able to fully participate in the project, add/update/add/remove/edit your images, etc. I thought having theme would be a good way to give the site some meaning, and I figure the "nudes" part will be just titilating enough to get some traffic, but not as boring as rocks and trees.

I have to put some restrictions on the content (nudes - not porn, over 18 models, men or women) and do some more work on the site when I have time, but in the meanwhile I thought some of you may be interested in this opportunity to show yer stuff.

Once we get enough contributions, I figure we can then do another Lulu book project.

[Terence McDonagh]

Cyrus,
Not sure if you've ever been to M&R Bar in Manhattan (they're currently closed for renovations until the fall), but the place is decorated almost entirely with paintings of reclining nudes. Might not be a bad place to have a book "opening", if books have such things.

They're located on Bowery between E 4th and Great Jones. I think the parent restaurant upstairs is called Marion's.

[cyrus]

That would be cool! But far into the future for now! I'm already getting questions that I can't answer. What exactly constitutes "reclining"? I dunno! :confused:

[Scott Davis]

Reclining - more horizontal than vertical, not squatting, sitting or laying face-down?

[Ash]

Of a recent medium format & digital shoot, I'd consider this to be reclining...

http://static.zooomr.com/images/5442316_4e275e0850.jpg

http://static.zooomr.com/images/5442318_9218730ce0.jpg

Or more classically
http://static.zooomr.com/images/5437052_79b19be492.jpg

Those neg scans are cropped (should be square) and the digital isn't horizontal. I'm not saying my recent shots are the definition or the best examples, but I consider them to be reclining nudes, as reference for everyone else if needs be ;)

[MenacingTourist]

I would love to contribute a painting. I'd prefer to contribute a nude photograph but just haven't gotten to that phase in my photography yet. Sounds like a fun project and I love the idea of that venue. Perfection.

Alan.

[Ash]

Well let's have the opening at least a year away, then I can afford to travel! :D

[cyrus]

... but I consider them to be reclining nudes, as reference for everyone else if needs be ;)

Ummm...yes, I'll grant you the reclining bit. But not nude enough? ;)

[Toyon]

As far as I can recall, the term "nude" covers both genders.

[Ash]

I have to put some restrictions on the content (nudes - not porn, over 18 models, men or women) and do some more work on the site when I have time, but in the meanwhile I thought some of you may be interested in this opportunity to show yer stuff.

[Charles Hohenstein]

Good luck with this. I'm sure that people will submit some interesting work. And I agree--much more interesting than rocks and trees. :)

[Maris Rusis]

Reclining nudes are a natural genre in large format photography.

Depth of field and film speed constraints often mean extended exposure times and people, clad or nude, can't stay still when standing. I find that the longest shutter speed a standing figure can sustain even when really trying to be still is about 1/4 second. A reclining figure can sustain upwards of three seconds and still yield an image sharp to the width of a hair.

And the models I've worked with like reclining nudes. What a job! Lie around all day, relax, earn a nice fee, and look pleasant just before the camera clicks.