ON PHOTOGRAPHING BREASTS - 2008

A residency collaboration with Nanette Wylde and Kent Manske of Preneo Press

When people use rules to drive the artistic process, this bothers me. So I decided to create some artwork around some of the statements/rules that one author created with respect to photographing breasts. All these statements are taken from the book with the library classification TR 674 H35 1980, namely:

"Photographically speaking, small to moderately sized breasts that are uplifted are by far the most desirable for female nude torso work.They can be photographed in most any position from full figure to tight closeups and from any angle with very few problems."

"Large, pendulous breasts are difficult to photograph, especially in the profile position. To minimise the problem, an obvious but restrictive solution is to have the model raise her arms and shoulders."

"The breast itself should always be allowed to complete its own circular form. It should be noted that the rib cage reinforces the breast, repeats its shape, and assists the photographer in leading the viewer's eye toward areas of dominant interest."

In December 2008, Nanette Wylde and Kent Manske invited me to a weekend residency at Preneo Press. We developed the concept of creating 3 distinct folios with the text in conjunction with photographs of men wearing breasts. This is a subversion of the male gaze, somewhat. The covers of the folios were screenprinted with images representing rather ambiguous lighting diagrams. A total of seven sets of folios were created with an additional artist proof and three participant versions.