Nude is not rude

Nude is not rude

I’ve just written to the Editor of Amateur Photographer about the latest in the magazine’s series of ‘From the Archive’ articles, where they present a couple of hundred words of text and a few pages from an old edition of the magazine: in the 10 July edition, the Editor himself reviewed the 13 July 1977 issue, which had a family nude on the cover. His tone was jocular, but a bit sniffy, suggesting that the image might lead to a rash of pictures of Auntie Beryl in the nude…


Like all nudity, in an increasingly censorious world, such a triple portrait needs to be photographed with discretion and concern for the subjects: the present and future wellbeing of the people in any naked picture must be a concern. But it is wrong to dismiss all attempts to record the tenderness within a family as being akin to ‘readers’ wives’ – and I think that the composure and dignity of some older nude models gives the lie to the idea that it is the subject matter that’s the problem, rather than the sensitivity of the image.

As it goes, I think that the image is a very reasonable attempt at a difficult triple portrait. Or maybe it’s the prospect of male nudity that is problematic? Certainly, the father looks the least comfortable of the group, and maybe this is what upsets many viewers (if, indeed, they are upset). I find male nudes a difficult subject, but I see that as being a fault in me, rather than male nudes per se. and while I’m very much aware of a particular need to protect children, I find Sally Mann’s images of her own family heart-warming as well as challenging. I feel similarly about LucyRabbit’s images on this site (go and look if you don’t know her work! But do bear in mind that many of her pictures are nudes.)