Photographer
Rp-photo
Posts: 42711
Houston, Texas, US
Presently, I am a film shooter who does my own scanning and website work. I have only been using color negative film due to the speed at which I can get it processed, and the semi-privacy granted by develop-only service, typically at a Ritz or Wolf location.
The camera shop guys usually can tell pretty quick what's on those negatives, even when they are not run through the printing machines. When I had my last batch processed after a group shoot (fully clothed fashion), one of the guys handling the negatives said "I can see you have some good subject matter!" In most cases, I know the people pretty well and often give then my photo site URL.
There's always the risk that some "do-gooder" might think that the model is underage, etc.
I also think that some models would be more uncomfortable with such images on film.
All this has lead me to believe that it might be best to not start doing nude work until I have a digital setup, hopefully by mid-December. Would others agree that it would be wise to wait?
On the matter of websites, I believe in liberally sharing my work with others, primarily because it means more self promotion for me as I build my portfolio. When I reach the nude work stage, I will have to re-think such an approach and withhold a great deal more.
Also, there are those that know of my photo site, including many day job associates, that I would not want to have acceess to nude work (male and female). I would envision a protected "inner circle" site that would be more tightly controller. How have others handled this?
Photographer
CameraSight
Posts: 1126
Roselle Park, New Jersey, US
rp_photo wrote:
Presently, I am a film shooter who does my own scanning and website work. I have only been using color negative film due to the speed at which I can get it processed, and the semi-privacy granted by develop-only service, typically at a Ritz or Wolf location.
The camera shop guys usually can tell pretty quick what's on those negatives, even when they are not run through the printing machines. When I had my last batch processed after a group shoot (fully clothed fashion), one of the guys handling the negatives said "I can see you have some good subject matter!" In most cases, I know the people pretty well and often give then my photo site URL.
There's always the risk that some "do-gooder" might think that the model is underage, etc.
I also think that some models would be more uncomfortable with such images on film.
All this has lead me to believe that it might be best to not start doing nude work until I have a digital setup, hopefully by mid-December. Would others agree that it would be wise to wait?
On the matter of websites, I believe in liberally sharing my work with others, primarily because it means more self promotion for me as I build my portfolio. When I reach the nude work stage, I will have to re-think such an approach and withhold a great deal more.
Also, there are those that know of my photo site, including many day job associates, that I would not want to have acceess to nude work (male and female). I would envision a protected "inner circle" site that would be more tightly controller. How have others handled this? I agree. Wait until you have digital. You don't want some $6.00 hr clerk make a sensitive judgement call, especially if the store has a high turnover of clerks However , you might take your film to a PRO custom lab instead of a standard retail store .
PS Remember Polaroid , the instant wonder for taking nude photos? You control who sees your photos now with the NEW digital technology
Photographer
Columbus Photo
Posts: 2318
Columbus, Georgia, US
The nudes might make you more popular with your colleagues at work.  I don't do that many nudes and many of them I don't put on my web site. Those that I do have a "click to view" option along with a warning. Paul
Photographer
Rp-photo
Posts: 42711
Houston, Texas, US
CameraSight wrote:
PS Remember Polaroid , the instant wonder for taking nude photos? As someone who grew up in the 70's, I remember all those benefits!
Some subtle hints about this benefit are dropped in this memorable mid-60's jingle for the Polaroid Swinger:
http://www.richardsfault.com/photograph … winger.mp3
Let's look closer, shall we?
"Swinger" - Pretty much a term for free love / mate sharing, although some just take it to mean "hip".
It says "Yes" when ready to shoot.
After taking the shot, "zip it off"!
The video that goes with it features a then-unknown Ali McGraw and other hot-looking teens frolicking on a beach with their Swinger!
Photographer
Rp-photo
Posts: 42711
Houston, Texas, US
Paul Ferrara wrote:
The nudes might make you more popular with your colleagues at work. Ah, but there is a very fine line between impressing and offending. I find it thrilling in a way to mix day and night job, but one must be very careful!
Photographer
D. Brian Nelson
Posts: 5477
Rapid City, South Dakota, US
I mostly do B&W film so this isn't a problem. When I was shooting mostly color I used a pro lab that saw enough nudes that they didn't raise any eyebrows at all. The professional labs here will also handle erotic work without comment. (OK, maybe that's yet another definition of professional.) One lab draws the line when it sees multiple similar sexual images without apparent artistic merit - what they believe to be commercial pornography. San Diego is far more conservative than Los Angeles that way.
As far as the dayjob goes, everyone there knows what I do, and most have seen my work. Some approve, some are jealous, some disapprove, but no one has suggested I quit or become more private about it. One good thing about California (and there aren't too many of those) is that people are far less judgemental than in any other place I've lived or been.
Don't worry about waiting for digital to do nudes - they've been the major theme of photography since tintype and digital doesn't add any kind of "security" to it. Stealing images is already illegal and civil and criminal solutions can be had. It's a far more likely thing that images from the web will be stolen, but so what? It's a public place by definition, and the scan sizes used are so small as to make any print form completely unusable.
Did I miss something here? I may not be getting the question.
-Don
Photographer
CameraSight
Posts: 1126
Roselle Park, New Jersey, US
rp_photo wrote:
As someone who grew up in the 70's, I remember all those benefits!
Some subtle hints about this benefit are dropped in this memorable mid-60's jingle for the Polaroid Swinger:
http://www.richardsfault.com/photograph … winger.mp3
Let's look closer, shall we?
"Swinger" - Pretty much a term for free love / mate sharing, although some just take it to mean "hip".
It says "Yes" when ready to shoot.
After taking the shot, "zip it off"!
The video that goes with it features a then-unknown Ali McGraw and other hot-looking teens frolicking on a beach with their Swinger! I had the original Swinger but traded it in for the BIG Swinger that used the B & W pack film .. 107.. I still have it ! Thanks for bringing back the memories
PS Did you see the movie about the life of Bob Crane.. Hogan's Heroes??
Photographer
American Glamour
Posts: 38813
Detroit, Michigan, US
I never really had any problems with film. In the days before digital, I simply found a pro lab that had no problem with glamour nudes or Maxim style. I don't shoot anything beyond Playboy style so I was never worried about the pornography issues.
If you want to shoot nudes on film, just ask the lab. Unless you are pushing limits, I doubt you will have any problems.
Photographer
Kcam
Posts: 13
Ventura, California, US
rp_photo wrote:
Also, there are those that know of my photo site, including many day job associates, that I would not want to have acceess to nude work (male and female). I would envision a protected "inner circle" site that would be more tightly controller. How have others handled this? Anyone at your work can create a problem even if they are currently a "friend". Relationships are dynamic and change without your wishes. I suggest you keep your professional relationships at arm's length in regards to nude work in this day. Why should they know of ALL your endeavors? Just my 2 cents.
Photographer
Rp-photo
Posts: 42711
Houston, Texas, US
As far as the day-jobbers, "no nudes is good nudes"!
Photographer
Marvin Dockery
Posts: 2243
Alcoa, Tennessee, US
rp_photo wrote:
Presently, I am a film shooter who does my own scanning and website work. I have only been using color negative film due to the speed at which I can get it processed, and the semi-privacy granted by develop-only service, typically at a Ritz or Wolf location.
The camera shop guys usually can tell pretty quick what's on those negatives, even when they are not run through the printing machines. When I had my last batch processed after a group shoot (fully clothed fashion), one of the guys handling the negatives said "I can see you have some good subject matter!" In most cases, I know the people pretty well and often give then my photo site URL.
There's always the risk that some "do-gooder" might think that the model is underage, etc.
I also think that some models would be more uncomfortable with such images on film.
All this has lead me to believe that it might be best to not start doing nude work until I have a digital setup, hopefully by mid-December. Would others agree that it would be wise to wait?
On the matter of websites, I believe in liberally sharing my work with others, primarily because it means more self promotion for me as I build my portfolio. When I reach the nude work stage, I will have to re-think such an approach and withhold a great deal more.
Also, there are those that know of my photo site, including many day job associates, that I would not want to have acceess to nude work (male and female). I would envision a protected "inner circle" site that would be more tightly controller. How have others handled this? I still shoot 80% film, but process the negatives myself. Black and white is processed the day of the shoot, but I often do a couple of shoots before processing the color film. A gallon of C41 film developer is is about twenty bucks, and it will process at least forty eight rolls of 35mm or 120 film. I store it in four dark root beer bottles, and the developer will last over a month. (Each quart will process 12 rolls.)
I use the bleach fix from my RA4 paper developer to do the bleach fixing of the film. (It will work fine, if you run it 7 minutes.)
I have found that the labs often scatch my negatives, ruining the possibility of good enlarger prints.
A good place to put your nudes is www.pbase.com. They can be left open or passworded.
You can not put porn on pbase but they are prettyopen about nudes.
If I were you I would not share all of your images with co workers.
Photographer
Scott Aitken
Posts: 3587
Seattle, Washington, US
Believe it or not, lots of photographers shot lots of nude photos long before digital was invented. :-)
There is no reason you can't do it on film if you want. I would NOT take it in to a Ritz or WalMart or any cheap one-hour photo place. Those machines are usually operated by teenagers being paid minimum wage. They are in a hurry, and will not take particularly good care to make sure you get good quality images. Worse, these type of places have a pretty bad reputation for making a few extra copies of the nudie photos for themselves and to pass around to all their buddies. Worse yet, in some conservative areas, there have been horror stories of them either refusing to process nudes, or calling the police if anything offends them.
You are better off contacting a good pro lab. They cost more, but you'll get better quality prints, they won't hassle you, and they won't keep copies for themselves.
Photographer
V
Posts: 207
New York, New York, US
I shoot strictly black and white FILM. I live in Los Angeles so I have access to very professional labs. If film is your choice of working, like it is mine, then there really isn't any reason not to do nudes while shooting film.
Jock Sturges used a professional lab to process his film and he still got blindsided by the Feds. Of course the Feds lost all way to the Supreme court but it cost Sturges well in to the six figures in legal fees to defend his work.
Photographer
Boho Hobo
Posts: 25351
Santa Barbara, California, US
rp_photo wrote:
Presently, I am a film shooter who does my own scanning and website work. I have only been using color negative film due to the speed at which I can get it processed, and the semi-privacy granted by develop-only service, typically at a Ritz or Wolf location.
The camera shop guys usually can tell pretty quick what's on those negatives, even when they are not run through the printing machines. When I had my last batch processed after a group shoot (fully clothed fashion), one of the guys handling the negatives said "I can see you have some good subject matter!" In most cases, I know the people pretty well and often give then my photo site URL.
There's always the risk that some "do-gooder" might think that the model is underage, etc.
I also think that some models would be more uncomfortable with such images on film.
All this has lead me to believe that it might be best to not start doing nude work until I have a digital setup, hopefully by mid-December. Would others agree that it would be wise to wait?
On the matter of websites, I believe in liberally sharing my work with others, primarily because it means more self promotion for me as I build my portfolio. When I reach the nude work stage, I will have to re-think such an approach and withhold a great deal more.
Also, there are those that know of my photo site, including many day job associates, that I would not want to have acceess to nude work (male and female). I would envision a protected "inner circle" site that would be more tightly controller. How have others handled this? Well I only shoot in film and I haven't been arrested yet. BW I generally roll the tank myself or sometimes when I've forgotten to buy developer (like last week) I send out to pro labs. color work always goes to one of the prolabs. Prolabs don't have time to titter over tits. so unless you're shooting something you shouldn't be shooting I wouldn't worry about it.
I don't know what kind of work situation you're in...like do you work for a Baptist Church? Some workplaces are filled with insanely uptight people (who incidentally I find are the most twisted under the sheets--but I digress)...but at some point if your nudes are marketable or marketed, then by sheer logic, people beyond a small group are going to have to see them.
Model
theda
Posts: 21719
New York, New York, US
Most pro-lbs will process artistic and glamolur nudes without batting aneye. Jock Sturges ran into problems because an overzealous lab lackey objected to the age of his subjects. As far as I know, even Ritz camera processes nude film without batting an eye. Wal-Mart, on the other hand, will not.
Photographer
Monsante Bey
Posts: 2111
Columbus, Georgia, US
theda wrote:
Most pro-lbs will process artistic and glamolur nudes without batting aneye. Jock Sturges ran into problems because an overzealous lab lackey objected to the age of his subjects. As far as I know, even Ritz camera processes nude film without batting an eye. Wal-Mart, on the other hand, will not. This is where finding an independent studio/developing business comes in handy. In Atlanta there was a place like that, the guy saw me and a horde of photogs suddenly swamp his business because he developed them with no questions asked.
Who has time to argue with the church lady who happens to work at Ritz over something SHE thinks is innapropriate?
Photographer
Rp-photo
Posts: 42711
Houston, Texas, US
KM von Seidl wrote:
I don't know what kind of work situation you're in...like do you work for a Baptist Church? Some workplaces are filled with insanely uptight people (who incidentally I find are the most twisted under the sheets--but I digress)...but at some point if your nudes are marketable or marketed, then by sheer logic, people beyond a small group are going to have to see them. I work in a specialty field in the engineering service industy, primarily calling on Gulf Coast refineries (Got my work cut out for me, thank you Katrina-Rita!).
The typical operators and plant people I work with have hearty senses of humor and are very trustable, especially the Louisiana folks! They have truly appeciated the "cheesecake" aspects of my work!
Back in the home office I am more careful. I am very distrustful of many management-types, who in my cyclical business tend to tolerate anything when times are good (like now), and suddenly remember every shortcoming when times are bad (Like in 2001 - 2003). I believe that the company I work for is on the higher end of the humaneness scale.
Like I said, you can either do no wrong or no right depending on business conditions, so you might as well enjoy life along the way!
Or quoting Rick Nelson, "You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself."
Photographer
V
Posts: 207
New York, New York, US
Monsante Bey wrote:
This is where finding an independent studio/developing business comes in handy. In Atlanta there was a place like that, the guy saw me and a horde of photogs suddenly swamp his business because he developed them with no questions asked.
Who has time to argue with the church lady who happens to work at Ritz over something SHE thinks is innapropriate? The question that needs to be asked is "Who put the church lady at Ritz in charge of dictating morality?" Just because you give over some film to be developed doesn't mean you relinquish your right to privacy.
Photographer
Alluring Exposures
Posts: 11400
Casa Grande, Arizona, US
When I used to shoot film I always used a pro lab for developing and printing. I never had an issue, and having releases signed with a picture of the model holding her proof of age in hand I have never been worried of overzealous camera-counter guys since I know I can't get in trouble having proof of age in hand.
As to what others think of my images, it's what I do and make money with. If my boss thinks I should stop, then he can give me a raise so I won't need to do this on the side and I'll consider his offer.
Photographer
Rp-photo
Posts: 42711
Houston, Texas, US
VIS wrote:
The question that needs to be asked is "Who put the church lady at Ritz in charge of dictating morality?" Just because you give over some film to be developed doesn't mean you relinquish your right to privacy. The enemy within that is behind all if this is the mindless, idiotic movement known as Political Correctness, with some post-9/11 security paranoia thrown in.
The "PC" movement has reduced the quality of life for many, robbed of us the gift of humor, and put a big chill on the artistic community.
In the good old days, social ebb and flow was helped along by the subtle ability of people to look the other way, including photo labs. Not any more!
Let's stand together to stop the madness.
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