Nude at Miena, Tasmanian highlands

[alexgard]

I got this 8x10 black glass ambrotype up at the Lakes on Saturday along with some 3rd degree sunburn (the model, mysteriously, didn't get anywhere near as much sunburn as I did)


This was 1.5 seconds exposure on a Schneider 240mm f/11 lens. I opted for the wide angle lens so she appeared larger from the lower angle. I think it came out well. Might try continue with the theme. I did have intention of the sunlight falling abstractly over her torso and casting more light over her hips and feet, but as you can imagine the arc of the sun changing constantly with every exposure and the 15 or 20 minutes between each plate meant it was just a matter of trying to get it done in the end. In future I'll take a reflector with me. She was very patient.

My life is very very busy these days and I have very little time to make photos but I'm trying my best to squeeze it in where I can. Days like this where I come home with a couple of good plates motivate me more. Had a couple of bad runs the last few times I went out.

I'm still shooting. Not as much as I'd like but I'm trying.

[Maris]

Good one, Alex Gard! This is a marvellous restatement of a powerful, productive, and provocative pictorial theme from the early 20th century.

I'm thinking of the photography of Anne Brigman, a favourite artist of Alfred Stieglitz, who got published in the famous periodical Camera Work.
Here is her Invictus of 1924.


Anne is good but I like better the stark brutal clarity of your dramatic presentation well free of the intrusive sentiment of soft focus.
Yes, commiserating for your suffering and the sunburn, but for everything else I say bravo, encore.

[alexgard]

Thankyou maris. Sorry I didn't realise the upload was such poor quality
Try this one

I think I'll continue with this theme

Thankyou for the referral. I don't know much about or many names in nude fine art photography but I'd love to delve deeper for inspiration

[Mick Fagan]

That is a striking success, sunburn or not.

As you mention that your model was very tolerant of the time it takes to do this kind of photography, perhaps the two of you could delve into the kind of work Veruschka did with body painting and blending into the surrounding landscape.

I could see that tree and your model blending to be something way above interesting.

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ ... 93e472b9be

Vera Anna Gottliebe Gräfin von Lehndorff, is her full name, and should help you with any searches.

[alexgard]

That is a striking success, sunburn or not.

As you mention that your model was very tolerant of the time it takes to do this kind of photography, perhaps the two of you could delve into the kind of work Veruschka did with body painting and blending into the surrounding landscape.

I could see that tree and your model blending to be something way above interesting.

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ ... 93e472b9be

Vera Anna Gottliebe Gräfin von Lehndorff, is her full name, and should help you with any searches.

Thanks again Mick

I have an idea of human models blending/mimicking the form of trees they pose against, probably not the most original idea but there's some great shapes up there at the lakes, sometimes just finding a willing or available model is the hardest part. Also, getting a model decorated and posed is hard enoguh without them then having to wait 5-10 minutes while you run back adn forward from camera to darkroom cursing under your breath at all the little mistakes you make in the tedious ambrotype process... dont have a lot of experience with models so just trying to keep it simple