The Female Nude Part 3: Composition
The Female Nude Part 3: Composition
The Female Nude Part 3: CompositionComposition: This is vital to create successful erotic female nude photos, so as to avoid ending up with shot after shot of meaningless shapes and not the sensual nude photography that you, as the photographer, had hoped to produce.
What is good composition? A good starting point is to look at photographs of erotic nudes that you find interesting (for example, known Masters of the genre) and work out how you would shoot the image. And remember it's not about copying someone else's work but how you would create it and what you feel the photo requires. No nude photo is really the definitive answer due to its creation rather than being a found image', so decide what you can add to the photo that would make it better? (That's your style).
Be creative and think outside of the box. What are you are trying to achieve? If you are doing it for yourself then it's whatever you like. However if its client led, what you think is creative might be seen as rubbish by the client. So make sure you are clear as to what the client wants. I often produce my own projects which provide me with a set criteria, for example, the Nude Laid Bare series, is an attempt to remove symbolism from erotic female nudes.
Plan your shoot so that it will guide you through it. Note: you may go off-track' at somepoint, but the plan should bring you back on course without too much of a diversion or a loss of valuable time.
Full Body: Decide whether you need any props to dress the nude model with, for example; a chair and a lamp. Consider the body shape you want and alter the lighting to suit. A sensual erotic nude can be either glamorous or artistic. If the model looks directly to camera, it suggests personal contact with the viewer, and therefore is glamorising the image by a suggestion of availability. If the model looks away, the image is more impersonal and artistic.
Close up on body part: This is an anonymous image that opens the image up to interpretation. Be sure of your lighting, what is in the shadows can be just as important as what is fully lit. A female nude can be seen as timeless, since the naked body has been reproduced in many guises for centuries. Only body shapes, certain haircuts and accessories could provide a clue to either the period represented or when it was photographed.
Black and White or Colour: Even in digital consider this as the lighting must follow your direction. Black and Whitehas a traditional classical feel to it and works perfectly for strong ideas, shapes and form, and the lighting must be strong for the shadows to develop. But don't settle for the classical black and white image if you have an idea that suits colour photography. One of my favourite colour photos started life as a colour study, but was later montaged to represent a tropical island paradise complete with added sun and sea.
Good Planning produces Great Results.