Pascal Baetens. Nude Photography. The Art and The Craft. 2007

locations

locations 121

Finding a location is easy; every place is

a location, and keeping an open mind will allow

you to explore your creativity. imagine your

favorite model against the rough, weathered wall

of an old barn, lying in soft, long grass, or in

sophisticated mode in an elegant hotel—each

location will tell a very different story to the

viewer. of course, stunning white beaches,

deserts, mountains, and

castles have an

immediate appeal, but

don’t be deterred by a

lack of them, for a small

room with a window is

enough to create

pleasing images—or

even just a door, stairs,

or a seat. You can

always find things that

are not beautiful, but look instead for what is

beautiful, even if it is only a tiny part of a place

Everywhere you go, be alert to interesting

possibilities for the future and if you spot a likely

location make notes or take a photograph, then

research practicalities such as ease of access

and whether you might need permission,

a ladder, additional lighting, or some form of

shelter for privacy. a library of locations will prove

invaluable when you are eager to explore an idea

or are commissioned to carry out a shoot.

as a rule, the more enclosed a location is,

the better: your model will feel more comfortable,

especially if he or she is an amateur. it’s a good

idea to make a few visits in advance, at different

times of the day, to find out how many passers-

by there might be; try to

go on sunny days so that

you can also see the

angle of light. if this isn’t

possible, take a compass

so that you can judge

whether, for example,

a late afternoon shoot will

give you the backlighting

you want in a landscape

Don’t forget that the

permission to take photographs is not the same

as permission to use them. if you are shooting

on private land or premises, don’t publish the

images unless you have obtained written

permission to do so—and be aware that

including paintings, statues, and other forms

of art in your image may raise issues of

copyright and royalties.

Look for what

is beautiful,

even if it is

only a tiny part

of a place.

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