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

130 exploring techniques

locations gallery

i’m convinced that anywhere has potential as a location, and

i do shoot just about everywhere. of course, i have favorite

places, but i’m always on the lookout for new opportunities.

As a general rule, the more dramatic the location, the

stronger its impact in the image, but wherever you are, it’s

important that the model and the setting don’t fight for

attention. it’s quite a subtle thing—there’s a fine line between

the model seeming completely detached from a location,

and overacting with it. i always start with the idea that the

model and i really belong in the location—even that we live

there. i find this gives my images more authenticity than if i

were to just concentrate on the visual impact of the place.

Swimming pools

A pool is a fantastic place for a shoot, with its ever-

changing ripples and reflections. the trap that many

photographers fall into—myself included—is to just have

the model in the water, looking at the camera. think about

why people love being in water. if you are swimming, would

you look at the camera? if you are relaxing and enjoying

the sensation of the water, would your eyes even be open?