[Dlanor Sekao]

I have never done it but I know people who do so in or near abandoned buildings. Which seems odd, but they trespass on private property. I would assume that they would be arrested for trespassing if the owner wanted to charge. I have seen pictures locally in these areas. Some are taken over by nature anyway so they are pretty hidden. Also a lot of boudoir type photos. Boudoir and abandoned buildings dont seem to go together to me, but it seems to be a 'thing' here and I know they sneak, so I guess it is a thrill thing on top of it.

This is the thing I Don't get ? Im not at all picking on anyone as there are various ways of expression.....but why the association of such morbid surroundings for Nudes ? Another thread mentions Assylums , Mortuary's , etc for shooting locations.....why all the darkness surrounding the naked human Body ?
Is it our upbringing ? Spiritual beliefs ? Societies taboo about a naked body and sex ? It just seems so dark and secret and I cannot understand just why ??
Is it to do with a Photographers deepest desires and intentions that make it this way ? Is it that its more personal expoitation rather than artistic creative expression ?

---------- Post added 04-22-15 at 02:57 AM ----------

Don't know about other places, but near me they like more unusual places. Like old asylums and mills and mental institutions. We have an abandoned psychiatric and tuberculosis hospital which are big, lots of old mills, old military forts. People ask on 'abandoned photography' groups where they can shoot nudes

This is the part I don't get ? Is it a dark expression or the taboo of a naked body ? Why the darkness and secrecy ?
I notice in the USA its more prevalent than in Europe.
Personally I believe its more personal expoitation of a naked human body bordering on pornography , rather than personal creative expression though photography. That's my 2 cents worth.....maybe Im wrong.

---

Last edited by Dlanor Sekao; 04-21-2015 at 12:10 PM.

[skierd]

My portrait photography class at the University of Alaska Fairbanks just did an outdoor nude model shoot at the botanical gardens next to campus. We told the gardens what we were up to you beforehand because we were going to be there for a while but it was never an issue.

Scout your location before you go there with the model. Once you're there keep him or her clothed until you were ready to shoot. Take your shots hand Them their robe or whatever and move onto the next spot. Most likely you will be gone before anybody can be offended and can get someone official there to shut you down. If you are shutdown say that you're an artist working on a shoot, apologize and leave hopefully with your shots already finished.

[Dlanor Sekao]

My portrait photography class at the University of Alaska Fairbanks just did an outdoor nude model shoot at the botanical gardens next to campus. We told the gardens what we were up to you beforehand because we were going to be there for a while but it was never an issue.

Scout your location before you go there with the model. Once you're there keep him or her clothed until you were ready to shoot. Take your shots hand Them their robe or whatever and move onto the next spot. Most likely you will be gone before anybody can be offended and can get someone official there to shut you down. If you are shutdown say that you're an artist working on a shoot, apologize and leave hopefully with your shots already finished.

+1 just as I said....get in.....disrobe...shoot....and be gone. If done correctly nobody even notices.
My Grand Canyon shoot was like this....less than 2 minutes model standing on the lower part of the guardrail and 50 clicks later......gone !

The watchtower was a bit more difficult.....but a 3rd party blocked the stairs temporarily just saying there was a short photography shoot that would take a few minutes...... waited between surges of tourists and a few minutes later it was done.....gone !
An older Park service volunteer 10' away from stair entrance didn't even know what was going on because we acted prompt and professional...like we were there documenting the stairs.....lol.

Im sure a couple people may have noticed briefly at another location but it was no big deal at all because of the timing and distance.

[lightbox]

+1 just as I said....get in.....disrobe...shoot....and be gone. If done correctly nobody even notices.
My Grand Canyon shoot was like this....less than 2 minutes model standing on the handrail and 50 clicks later......gone ! Nobody noticed.....lol.

2 minutes!? Wow. No lights / diffusers to set up?

[Dlanor Sekao]

2 minutes!? Wow. No lights / diffusers to set up?

Two 48" reflectors and off camera flash w/diffuser.
When I want a shot bad enough Im going to get it !


The watchtower took me two days prep figuring it out and lots of prep pics of anyone in the stairs to get the lighting I wanted. I ended up using direct overhead hard lighting with a 12v 40watt screw in clear bulb on a 12' collapsible carbon boom.... battery powered by small sealed 12 volt motorcycle size battery in my backpack.....lol. On camera fill flash. I extended the pole at the top of the stairs and set the pack on it......worked like a charm.....perfecto.

[lightbox]

If you are shutdown say that you're an artist working on a shoot, apologize and leave

Fourth.....make sure you arent breaking any specific laws. This is pretty much covered by our freedom of expression in the USA so your ass is covered here.

I might have glossed over these interesting tidbits;

Trespassing aside, are you saying that being an artist gives you immunity to being caught with your pants down? I'm not sure how to interpret.

[skierd]

I think were both saying is most people really don't care and that people who are otherwise interested in this sort of work let themselves worry too much about things like this instead of just shooting. The people that mind don't matter and the people that matter don't mind...

Obviously you have to use discretion. For example I wouldn't suggest shooting nudes on a kindergarten playground or in the middle of the public shopping mall while they're open or in the middle of a ball field at a public park during a game. But at that same park at that same field after the game with the light still on but everybody gone why not ?

[Dlanor Sekao]

I might have glossed over these interesting tidbits;

Trespassing aside, are you saying that being an artist gives you immunity to being caught with your pants down? I'm not sure how to interpret.

Being the photographer if I got caught with MY pants down would probably end me in jail....lol. However in light of what you are saying what if the worse case scenario unfolds ? A simple misdemeanor ticket for public nudity ? I can guarantee you that #1.....it will get thrown out of court considering the circumstances.....or #2......a small fine at the most usually less than $100 from what I have heard.....or #3......it gets dropped because there wont be anyone to testify if you fight it......really a non issue......its a simple misdemeanor at the most.
I can assure you this isn't going to attract any attention in any significant way from any legal authorities. I got questioned at the Grand Canyon.....they wanted to know if I was commercial or private.....They didn't give a Damn about anyone nude anywhere.....they just wanted to make sure they got their Permit $$ if I was.
I have a friend that shoots quite a few nudes as a pro. He puts up signage stating so and has never been ticketed , but has been hindered or stopped on occasion.
Everything has to be done with respect and a professional attitude.
My first nude shoot was a spontaneous affair.....it just happened at the "Wave" with a complete lady stranger that was also into landscape photography. Surprise..suprise.....there were two other nude shoots there that day that I know of after us. Everyone was respectful and gave notice and requested privacy. .....6 out of 20 people did a nude shoot that day. I would say that's a high percentage for a semi public place.
I had a blast and learned a tremendous amount from my lady hiking companion that day about the nude subject......I will always say.... Thank You Elle.
That broke the ice and now Im comfortable and it opened up a whole new level of creativity and comfort ability overall.

[Murfy]

This is the thing I Don't get ? Im not at all picking on anyone as there are various ways of expression.....but why the association of such morbid surroundings for Nudes ? Another thread mentions Assylums , Mortuary's , etc for shooting locations.....why all the darkness surrounding the naked human Body ?
Is it our upbringing ? Spiritual beliefs ? Societies taboo about a naked body and sex ? It just seems so dark and secret and I cannot understand just why ??
Is it to do with a Photographers deepest desires and intentions that make it this way ? Is it that its more personal expoitation rather than artistic creative expression ?

---------- Post added 04-22-15 at 02:57 AM ----------

This is the part I don't get ? Is it a dark expression or the taboo of a naked body ? Why the darkness and secrecy ?
I notice in the USA its more prevalent than in Europe.
Personally I believe its more personal expoitation of a naked human body bordering on pornography , rather than personal creative expression though photography. That's my 2 cents worth.....maybe Im wrong.

These are places that are watched by hired guards, police, etc. I think it is a thrill of not getting caught. or getting caught, naked or nude body or just a photographer alone, people break into abandoned places all the time and like to share the 'tales' of almost getting arrested for trespassing. Sometimes they happen to have a nude person with them, sometimes not. Abandon places are big around here for shooting, no matter what the subject, the building themselves, or the nude, or I have even seen fashion shoots for stores and magazines using old buildings as a backdrop. I don't think it is anything to do with nude per se, it is a just a common place to shoot.

I think it is more the juxtaposition of "new" and "nice" vs "old and rundown" I don't think it is anything to do with taboo. I think a lot of people here are fascinated with the past and they kind of mush it with something else. Not sure if they put much thought into it other than thinking it is cool to be in a building that is off limits and all rubble-y. I don't particularly like it, but I am not a fan of a lot urbex photography to being with, it just seems very popular here, which in turn means it is probably used as a backdrop a lot too.

[Dlanor Sekao]

These are places that are watched by hired guards, police, etc. I think it is a thrill of not getting caught. or getting caught, naked or nude body or just a photographer alone, people break into abandoned places all the time and like to share the 'tales' of almost getting arrested for trespassing. Sometimes they happen to have a nude person with them, sometimes not. Abandon places are big around here for shooting, no matter what the subject, the building themselves, or the nude, or I have even seen fashion shoots for stores and magazines using old buildings as a backdrop. I don't think it is anything to do with nude per se, it is a just a common place to shoot.

I think it is more the juxtaposition of "new" and "nice" vs "old and rundown" I don't think it is anything to do with taboo. I think a lot of people here are fascinated with the past and they kind of mush it with something else. Not sure if they put much thought into it other than thinking it is cool to be in a building that is off limits and all rubble-y. I don't particularly like it, but I am not a fan of a lot urbex photography to being with, it just seems very popular here, which in turn means it is probably used as a backdrop a lot too.

Hmmm....I learn something new every day....lol. I had no idea it was popular. I guess there is a whole subculture of photographers I never knew existed......Thanks.

[Murfy]

Hmmm....I learn something new ever day....lol. I had no idea it was popular. I guess there is a whole subculture of photographers I never knew existed......Thanks.

Lol, I guess we just have a lot of blighted areas and empty buildings! I like the history of it all but sometimes they all start to look the same. On a side note, the old mills and such are usually near streams and wooded areas which are quite pretty and semi secluded.

[AquaDome]

I would be more concerned about filming without a permit (a big deal when I lived in Los Angeles) or a property owner demanding a license fee even though the photographs aren't being published. Everyone here in Florida assumes that because I have a camera, I'm getting paid and they're not.

In light of these issues, it is probably best to get permission and permits first. That way, if anyone does complain, its their problem instead of yours.

[wildman]

Where are outdoor nudes shot?

Outdoors?

[Tom777]

Where are outdoor nudes shot?


Anywhere there are no nosey gits about


Tom G

[AquaDome]

Anywhere outdoor nudes can be found. But is it ethical to put out bait to attract outdoor nudes?