Five Nudes Friday #55
Two weeks ago I received a comment from subscriber Richard Werner on Five Nudes Friday #49. I thought long and hard about my response, because he made me think about why I post the photos that I post. Thank you for that Richard! 👍
You can read his comment and my response below. I thought I would share this with you because more subscribers may have a specific suggestions, interests or opinions.
I think these comments and thoughts are very valuable because it makes us aware of why we do the things we do, and therefore we’re able to make conscious choices about it.
Enjoy this edition and I hope it provides you with a bit of inspiration for your own artistic journey!
On Including Male Nudes in Five Nudes Friday
Richard Werner writes:
Can I also suggest a few things? I like to see a mixed gender exhibition in photos. So not only female nude but also male nude. Just because the nude body is an attraction of its own and beautiful.
My response:
Hello Richard,
Thank you for your comment, and apologies for the delayed reply. I’ve taken some time to reflect on it—not because I disagree, but because your question prompted me to think more deeply about why I choose the images I do for the newsletter.
To offer a more structured response, I’ll break it into three parts. First, let’s talk about female and male nudes. I absolutely appreciate the artistic male nude, just as much as I value the female nudes featured in the newsletter. In fact, Herb Ritts, one of my favorite photographers, has produced some incredible male nude work. In Five Nudes Friday #18, I even dedicated a special feature to him, including three of his male nude photos.
That being said, out of the 164 photographers I’ve showcased over the past year, probably fewer than 10 have produced male nude work, and I’ve shared even fewer in the newsletter. It’s not that I have an aversion to male nudes, but rather that the artistic standards I have for the photos I include are rarely met in the male nude images I come across (I’ll touch more on that later).
I do agree with you—the human body is inherently beautiful and captivating. However, our perception of beauty is highly personal and, for me, strongly influenced by the way a body is photographed. Just because a body is visually striking doesn’t necessarily mean I feel compelled to include every type of body in the newsletter.
In Five Nudes Friday #52, I wrote: “As for selection, there’s no strict objective process—I simply choose photos I personally appreciate. The main guidelines are that the image shouldn’t be overly erotic, it should feel authentic (no heavily edited skin), and it shouldn’t be a candid shot.” This makes my selection process quite subjective. While I may include a male nude if I find it to be a beautiful photograph, I don’t aim for specific quotas or representation of different body types.
I really appreciate that you’ve shared your preferences, and I’m always open to suggestions. Feel free to send me links to photographers or photos you’d like to see featured. I can’t promise I’ll include them, as they still have to meet my personal standards. This newsletter is a passion project for me, and I select the images that resonate with me, hoping they’ll connect with my audience as well. That’s why there’s no commercial goal behind it—I want to remain free from any external pressures to conform to what others might prefer.
Ultimately, I believe that if I find a photo compelling, there will be others who appreciate it too. This newsletter is my small contribution to the promotion of artistic nudes and the talented artists who create them.
Please do not forget to send me any suggestions!
Warm regards,
Imar
Thank you Imar!! 🙏🏼