Fine Art Nudes: Lighting and Posing for Black & White Photography

In this book, veteran photographer Stan Trampe shows you how to produce outstanding black & white nude portraits using basic equipment and a simple lighting approach—both in the studio and on location. You’ll get great insight into what it takes to develop a trusting relationship with models that will facilitate an eagerness for them to embrace—and even improve upon—your creative concepts.

With more than 25 years’ experience photographing nudes, Trampe has developed an eye for what makes a portrait resonate with viewers. In the pages of this book, you’ll discover what makes his black & white fine-art nude images tick. You’ll get tips for choosing dramatic indoor and outdoor locations that will serve as the perfect backdrop and set the mood in the image. You will also learn how to create or find great natural light that shows texture and contours the model’s body for added appeal. Posing subjects to coax curves and highlight the subject’s physical aspects is of obvious import in this genre, and Trampe teaches you to help conceptualize a strategy that not only makes the subject look good but, in many cases, even plays off of another shape in the overall image. He also teaches you when and how adding fabric or props will further your image, and when less is more. Also included are pages on traditional compositional guidelines such as effective framing, leading lines, and the Rule of Thirds. Finally, Trampe ends with a look at basic retouching in postproduction to lighten or darken the image, remove blemishes, and creatively crop the image for added impact.

Whether you are new to photographing artful nudes or simply want to learn some new ideas to work into your repertoire, this book will enhance every aspect of your photography.