Nude Photography: The Art and the Craft [Hardcover]

Pascal Baetens (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0756631769 | ISBN-13: 978-0756631765 | Publication Date: October 15, 2007

Follow practical advice from nude photography experts and learn to create picture-perfect results every time with this master class in photographing the human form. Everything's covered, from working successfully with amateur and professional models to getting great results in your own home or outdoors. Find tips on setting up a shoot, lighting effects, and post-production techniques, so you can turn a good picture into a really great one. Get inspired by a stunning Photographer's Gallery featuring the work of an international panel of photographers, from Andreas Bitesnich and Sylvie Blum, to Allan Jenkins and Almond Chu.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Pascal Baetens is a Belgium-based professional photographer who specialises in portrait, glamour, fashion and travel assignments. His work has featured widely in magazines, books, and exhibitions throughout Europe and North America. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: DK Publishing (October 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756631769
• ISBN-13: 978-0756631765
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #865,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A lovely, interesting book., November 14, 2007

By 

Al Nowak "photo buff" (mid Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nude Photography: The Art and the Craft (Hardcover)

It's not clear from the title, but this book is more about artistic nude photography than glamour (Playboy, Penthouse, etc.) nude photography. Sometimes the distinction is a bit vague though.

I like this book. The images are well done, and Mr. Baetens knows the subject very well. I especially like the behind-the-scenes views he provides of the effort that goes into creating successful images. This includes discussing the shot with the model, creating a set and arranging lighting, shooting, and then editing images. A wealth of information is provided in a logical fashion. Some of the topics covered include choosing models, conveying a mood, outdoor lighting, and much, much more.

The images are well done, and a selection of images by other photographers is included. The models are attractive, and include male models so be aware there is male frontal nudity.

I especially appreciate that Mr. Baetens does NOT spend a third of his book telling us what a camera is and describing all the varieties of lighting equipment and accessories. Thank you!

If photography is your passion, I think you'll like this book. If photography of the nude interests you, I know you'll like this book. Buy it.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For artists and fans alike, January 21, 2008

By 

Jessica Lux (Rosamond, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nude Photography: The Art and the Craft (Hardcover)

The latest photography offering from DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley) is a glossy treatise on mastering the art of nude photography, from selection an approach to perfecting your chosen techniques and post-production tips and tricks. Author Pascal Baetens is a Belgian jack-of-all-trades who has specialized in portrait, fashion, travel, and nude photography in a range of industries (editorial, commercial, and private). The Baetens DK Nude Photography course opens with a historical perspective, followed by a lush academic discussion of nude photography styles. The meat of the book are sections on photography techniques (composition, lighting, posting, locations) and post-production (cropping, reframing, filtering, retouching).

This oversized 250+ page hardcover concludes with a gallery of nude photography featuring the works of ten international artists, accompanied by biographical information, artist's notes, first-person essays, and behind-the-scenes set photos. Works of dozens of renowned artists appear throughout the instructional pages of this text, rendering it well-deserving of the cover price.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sturdy Introduction, April 26, 2008

By 

C. Crawford "The Constant Amatuer" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nude Photography: The Art and the Craft (Hardcover)

This book is a sturdy introduction to nude photography. For a person with undiagnosed adult ADD like myself this book was very useful. The chapters are laid out well with a lot of pictures and paragraphs next to them expressing various ideas and inspirations. It's important to convey a sense of direction and purpose when photographing naked people. I'd say the book has a lot of confidence. Try asking someone awkwardly to let you photograph them nude. Probably not going to happen. On a final note I'd buy this book just for the pictures even if I wasn`t into photography. Then it would probably get me into photography. I digress...great book.