But I know it when I see it!

But I know it when I see it!

Let’s dance around the conventions on nudes a bit today.

It’s easy and a bit flip to say that one woman’s art is another man’s pornography, but it is actually true. Long experience of working with models and sharing my pictures of them has made it very clear that everyone has their own standards, and many are convinced that everyone else is wrong.

In Britain, we’re quite prudish in public, while having a rather unhealthy interest in the wrongdoings of others on the inside pages. So nipples have been banned from the front cover of magazines on display in the newsagent’s, but an MP sex romp with an escort will get the girl’s scantily-clad form all over a three-page article, and may kick-start her career in films.

In other news, a nude with pubic hair may miss out on acceptance for a club exhibition, possibly because pubic hair on a model is now something of a novelty. (Actually, it’s a great aid to modesty in some pictures!)

I’m a member of a networking site for models, studios and photographers, called Purpleport. They have reasonably clear guidance about what is acceptable and what isn’t – but that guidance is rather more liberal than most Ephotozine members would want. Don’t worry, though: the site has three levels of filter: as well as ‘suitable for work’ images (VERY fully clothed) members and visitors can choose to see ‘NSFW’ and ‘adult’ pictures.



Actually, ‘NSFW’ has always been an issue for me: if you’re at work, what are you doing on a social or networking site? It’s an abuse of the employer’s time just as much if you’re on Facebook or Ephotozine as if you are looking at nudes: please don’t do it!

For many years, one of my favourite photographic magazines has been the French publication, ‘Photo’ – much more of a concentration on pictures than any British or American equivalent, and far less concern with lines per millimetre or how many cards the camera takes. They have published hard-hitting photojournalism as well as erotica: and an edition a few years ago featured singer Pink, topless and smoking a cigarette: and she was wearing an expression that said, very clearly, that if you don’t like this image, it’s your problem, not hers.

So – where do you stand on this? Some discussion might be interesting.