Last week my Photography teacher announced the class’s next assignment which resulted in a lot of gasps and looks of disbelief, including those of my own. Our assignment was to shoot 3-4 rolls of nudes or rather pictures celebrating the body.
We all thought the very same thing. How the fuck are we going to get anyone to take of their cloths for us, let alone have the balls to go around and ask people would they volunteer, without looking like a fucking pervert.
This was by far the hardest assignment ever given to us. The subject matter isn’t one always readily available (willing) and there’s also the entire element of discomfort with the naked body, that whole social taboo bit and our own hang ups to get over.
Needles to say only four people showed or rather had material to show. One had a series of out of focus Barbie dolls screwing. Another had a six scattered images of work, nothing overtly racy but there was a particular shot of undressed mannequins that was amazing, this other girl shot her friend in a gauzy sun dress but had a beautiful picture of thick well formed legs sporting sickening padded leather stilettos.
Then there was me, who took the entire thing where no one else was willing to take it. 36 self portraits, I dubbed The Red Light Series. Yusef wearing nothing but his birthday suit or maybe a little saran wrap. It was the hardest thing I ever shot or rather had the balls to share with the world. I was in fact so uncomfortable that I was at first only willing to show my teacher the series. My teacher and one of the guys in class talked me out of it and insisted that I had to show what my teacher considered my best work yet in two years. And so, shaking, I handed my memory disk to my teacher, inundated with self doubt thinking oh God this entire class and two professors are about to see my nudes projected on a six foot screen.
It was all so weird, me sitting there in the dark surrounded by strangers looking at me free of garbs and inhibition. I was nude but my body was viewed as art rather then object, even though objectified, but not necessarily sexualized. There were no signs of judgment or uninvited opinions, only shows of support and loads of kudos. My teacher said that I crossed the threshold and set a new standard of artistic daring that raised the bar for everyone.
Very brave of you Yusef....it is easier for me to take artistic nude photos of other people and even that I get a little nervous... but pictures of ourselves to exhibit to others is another story...
RR
Thank you Ruben, especially for the artistic influence and inspiration.
wow you are very brave...but, i dont know i think that celebrating the human body is a powerful thing.
I always think that anyone who can put themselves out there ilke you did definitely have my respect...
I wish I were as bold you are...I mean, i still feel odd undressing in front of people, even if it's someone I'm dating.
Some of us simply wish we had been a part of that class that day. As for getting someone to take nude pictures, I would have attempted to find the hottest guy on campus and asked him if he would volunteer to showcase his body as art. Easier said than done but I know, but it would have been THE perfect excuse.
YOU GO BOYYY !!! I wish I could be that brave and do that, but I would be too uncomfortable with somebody takin' pictures of my body like that; so I give you ultimate ProPs... good job man !! You are a great inspiration !!
You should be proud of yourself! You definetly catapaulted yourself into another with this series. I know it must have been a nightmare to present yourself to your classmates and teacher. Whats great is that you didn't let your nervousness or insecurities deter you from your goal.
i would have volunteered, for a price... lol just kidding.
really tho, that's awesome. if it were me i'd get over the nude part but i'm not sure if i'd be able to sit there and view my own self portraits at the same time with the entire class...
awkward.
kudos.