What would it take to get you naked?
I just watched two series from How to look good naked hosted by Carson Kressley, you might recognize him from the Queer eye for the straight guy. I just love him, and I really enjoyed watching this new series. I thought it was going to be on Bravo, and it is on My Lifetime. I really hope it gets a lot of ratings, because I love what this show stands for.
I love it at the end where he tell them they should do a photo shoot and that they should do it naked. The shocked look, that immediately goes to excitement, is so great to watch on somebody who has never set themself free. I love it, I love to see the genuine smile on somebody's face, and the excitement and confidence that they move forward with in life once they have bared it all.
Why is it that there is such a taboo about being naked? Is it associated with sex? Is it associated with self confidence, or lack thereof it?
To me, being naked is being free, its the ability to move about and to celebrate life, no matter where you are, or what is going on in your life. It's an adventure, and when you are naked outdoors, its the greatest high that I could ever achieve. The feel of the sun, the wind, the water, the sand, the grass, the earth, on your bare skin, and most importantly, on all of your bare skin, is heaven.
I have been asked on several occasions how the fact I can be naked, and be in pictures when I have a boyfriend. They are even more shocked when I tell them that my boyfriend takes the pictures, builds the website, and encourages my nakedness. There is no deceit, there are no lies, there is only fun explorations on this planet, living life, pursuing bliss, and having lots of fun!
Can nudity be sexual? Well yes, but its only sexual if your intentions are sexual. And thats a great choice to have. Being naked does not always make me feel sexual. Its usually the furthest thing from my mind. What makes me feel sexual, is when I purposely dress to be sexual, or I purposely undress to be sexual.
Have you ever been naked? Have you ever been naked in pictures? May I ask why or why not, I am always curious to understand what others think. I know that I have not always been so comfortable naked, and that I have had major growth and experiences in life that has brought about my comfort, but we all have a different story, and I am really curious to know yours.
We work with a lot of new people, who have never been naked before. We are capturing their journey, and each photo shoot seem to free the individual more and more. How do we do this? We give them the choice. We ask how they want to be in pictures, and we let them know that we do shoot nudes, that this is our art, and we love to shoot the body. If they wish to participate, then they become naked in our pictures. The transformation in each person that we have shot, is beautiful. It is so fun, and feels so good to put a smile, and some energy into somebody who has never been naked before.
What would it take to get you naked? How would you be willing if ever to get naked? For art? For love? For freedom?
Comments
na·ked an adjective. According to the dictionary naked is being “without adequate clothing”, “without customary covering, container or protection”. In my opinion interesting wording… adequate and customary. Hmm, curious. Reading on… “bare, stripped, or destitute”, “defenseless, unprotected, exposed”. The word exposed resonates with me.
My story of my sexuality and body image has been a bumpy road but the journey has been amazing. Within the last 24 hours I experienced my first photo shoot where I appeared naked, nude and/or exposed. Being naked has not ever come easy for me for so many reasons but with those aside, I choose to discuss what it took for me to overcome the fear of being naked especially for the camera.
My first step towards freedom was to stop comparing myself to magazines and others, to find love within myself for me and for me to cherish those once dreaded differences.
In the words of a wise friend of mine “A woman is always a work of art, all it takes is what comes from the inside, and how you present it, if we all looked the same, it would be so boring”.
My second step to freedom was to be honest with myself and not continue to run from so many emotions and experiences I was keeping bottled within myself. It was this step that was the hardest but I was truly necessary for me to be comfortable in my own skin, to expose my soul to the world without regret, and in this comfort I found the light of love.
Exhilarated, liberated, free and proud were feeling that rushed over me upon the completion of my shoot and for many hours after. I cannot wait to share my photos with the world so they see the love I have within.
you are a goddess and an amazing person, I am so happy that we have shared all of our ups and downs and liberations over the last 10 years! I could not imagine this adventure without you in it!
you were simply amazing last night! left us speechless, and warm and fuzzy all throughout the night! You looked absoloutly amazing!
and so looking forward to our first sister love adventure!!!
see you soon, ;)
I've always operated under the premise that if you allow such pictures of yourself to be taken you must assume that they will eventually become public whether you want them to or not. Since my career does not allow me the luxury of letting them be public I choose not to have them made in the first place (though if I could be guaranteed privacy I'd do it in a heartbeat.)
makes me wanna...
show some skin...
Well, i'm always in the nude at home. I find clothes so constraining. I never found the line, 'if you're nervous on stage, just imagine the audience to be naked' sensible. What's so funny or confidence-inspiring about an audience being naked? That shows that being out of one's clothes renders one a 'nobody'.
Wrong. That's what i was born with, and tis pregnant with potential. But, i agree with you completely - i too dress or underdress to be bring out what the bare skin does not. My favourite casual wear includes cycling tights, stretch denim shorts and tight tops. Of course, in this country, people are inclined to think you're a cyclist(i've been asked that many, many times) or gay. It seems that sexuality in this country is a 'woman thing'. Pity the women. I'm sure the lack of inner sexuality, as opposed to simple lust, amongst the men must be one of the reasons why they spend so much time eating and shopping.
There are many historical reasons why nudity was taboo in various parts of the world. These reasons evolved and took on new meanings in various historical contexts. For the present, frowning on nudity is largely a colonial-inspired phenomenon where nudity was viewed as narrowing the gap between the animal kingdom and humanity. There are quite a few quotes from back then to illustrate this viewpoint. The most clearest example of this ridiculous perspective is the western 'suit' which is the greatest symbolic distinction between the human and animal as it is well-wrapped, assertive and definite.
Of course, when we don the suit, we do not do so with this in mind. But it is nevertheless a mind that has been socialised into such thinking that actually makes us think that we 'look good'. Do you think the suited wo/man would be attractive to an aborigine coming across them for the first time. S/he might very well laugh as such uncomfortable ostentation relative to the bare skin.
Personally, if i could, i would choose to don nothing but silk or latex thongs with a laced front so that i could be relatively nude and yet 'dressed' enough to exhibit my sexuality. As for the other aspects of my personality, i'd let my eyes, sideburns, earrings, and my soon to be acquired tattoo(of my own design), do the talking.
As for my ties, i use it as blindfolds or to tie one's hands to the bedpost.;)
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