Jillian Page: Reflections

Nudism/Naturism: Photography and exhibitionism

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I’d like to take a closer look at this issue. As one reader, Genevieve, points out in a response to my post about naturism photography, there seem to be some photos appearing on sites with less-than-pure naturism focus. The pictures I’m seeing on some sites seem to be only of beautiful women and hunky men — almost as if they are posing for magazines.  They’re not really all that “natural” at all, natural being people doing everyday activities at campgrounds or whatever. There are few if any pictures of everyday people, i.e. flabby moms and dads.

So, it brings up a question I had asked much earlier about the line between exhibitionism and naturism, at least in photography. Are the “beautiful” people allowing themselves to be photographed doing it knowing their images will appear on sites all over the Internet, social media being what it is — i.e. largely unregulated? Is it exhibitionism? It also raises another question: what are the true motivations of people who are running these sites and posting those particular pictures and not pictures of flabby moms and dads?

I’m not judging. And I don’t have a problem with sites having photos of “beautiful” people. (I’m no prude, and have been known to be a bit of an exhibitionist myself.) But does this somewhat narrow focus of photography truly represent what naturism is all about?

For discussion, with kindness and respect.

Jillian

10 responses to “Nudism/Naturism: Photography and exhibitionism”

  1. andreashesse Avatar
    andreashesse

    The wonderful world of shooting what you see and shooting what you want to see. As a photographer, I can understand both worlds. During an ordinary day, either on the streets or at a beach or anywhere, there are different ways to get a shot.
    Either, silently, secretly to capture people as they are. Not in pose, Not encouraged or anything else.
    The other way is to ask people beforehand. Now, who are the people that would agree to get captured by a camera? The shut-ins? I hardly think so. The people with a hint of exhibitionism? Probably more, right?
    And then, there is the work you do as a photographer where you get asked by people whether you can take a picture of them. These people – I would think – have the most extrovert way in them. They pose if you shoot, they act less natural. Of course, the whole shot is arranged after all.

    Now, when it comes to publishing: Without being in the scenery of Naturism or Nudism myself, I select the pictures I shoot very, very carefully. I want to display my abilities and knowledge with any of my shots. I want to show beauty as I see it. To build a portfolio that impresses. I would imagine, that if I want to get into a carreer as a portrait and beauty photographer, I would like to show, that I can shoot like that. In case, I want to be a photographer who shows naturalism, I probably would have to be able to show this kind of beauty or this kind of passion with people being more ‘ordinary’. But after all, showing Beauty in ordinary things and ordinary people is more difficult and needs quite some practice and – from my perspective – quite some self-esteem as a photographer, too.

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    1. jillianpage Avatar
      jillianpage

      Nice response. Thank you for this, Andrea.

      Cheers

      Jillian

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    2. Jeff Avatar
      Jeff

      Agree – well stated reply from one who is a photographer and loves being naked with the elements. I practice the photography part a whole lot more.

      As a flabby dude I admit to being self-conscious at times (even though I shouldn’t) and I use that to filter my photography in respecting the privacy of others. I mainly photograph urban landscapes but sometimes shoot street photography, which is people captured in candid, unposed moments. If someone is at a public place like a street or park I will usually consider them ok to photograph as they are in the public eye. But since I know many naturists may wish to keep their lifestyle private I do not photograph them at a beach out of respect.

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  2. genevieveharvey18 Avatar
    genevieveharvey18

    The photographers I was referring to aren’t being particularly discriminatory on any level. Any and every type of woman is on the website I was referring to (there’s someone for everyone) but they were all being viewed in a sexual way. It wasn’t just attractive young slim girls at a bike ride and certainly the naturist images that are appearing on there are definitely amateur snaps of genuine people (older/unfitter/average Joe’s) in their naturist environment. Everyone seemed to be ‘game’ and that made me doubly concerned.

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    1. jillianpage Avatar
      jillianpage

      I understand, Genevieve.

      Thanks

      Jillian

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  3. nikhilananda Avatar
    nikhilananda

    ALOHA….. saw an excellent movie last nite at the wailea maui film festival; “thanks for sharing”….. profound and well acted… enjoy….

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  4. nikhilananda Avatar
    nikhilananda

    ALOHA JILLIAN:…… hope ii find u well….. perhaps you are familiar with the photography/videos by spencer tunick; he does group nude fotos of hundreds to thousands of people in public spaces all over the world; he did two shoots on maui a few years ago at the nude beach (little beach) and also at a secluded waterfall ….. check him and the photos out and enjoy….. ;o}

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  5. smoothalx Avatar
    smoothalx

    When promoting a site (naturist or textile) you will normaly see “beautiful” people which is OK, that’s marketing. What worries me are several “naturist” sites advertise themselves having x thousand pictures of “naturists”. When the purpose of the sites is to show pictures of naturists then it raises a red flag for me. Naturist sites do have place to share photos in the same way as FB but also to share stories, blogs, chat, trip reports, etc.

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  6. Maurice W. Smith Avatar
    Maurice W. Smith

    I think that you are correct that there may be a touch of exhibitionistic behavior although I am not quite sure that it is “only the beautiful people.” Take me for example, I am by no means physically beautiful, I am a 49 year old naturist/nudist (whatever the potically correct term is now) that if I were to turn sideways and stick my tongue out, I look like a pregnant zipper with a grey button on top. Do people looking for pictures want to “see” that? No although the image is comical. As I hear all the time, nobody wants to see those old droppy and sagging body parts, now six pack abs and well hung or tits that stand up nice and perky on a smooth skinned beautym those are a different story. I would like to point out that I really have no issues with people seeing me nude because I am that comfortable with myself.

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  7. sassycoupleok Avatar
    sassycoupleok

    Yes many nude photos on the net of supposed nudist both male and female. We are nudist and have been to several resorts and outings. Never have we seen quantity of body types often shown. Yes there some beautiful people but for the most part we all need to be fitter. However part of social nudity is body acceptance of all so they are all beautiful regardless of size or shape. As can be seen in our gavatar pics we are not magazine quality either but not ashamed to be seen nude.

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Jillian Page: Reflections

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Reflections on life in the global village with longtime newspaper copy editor J.G. Page.

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