Nudes and Portraits [Hardcover]

Watson-Guptill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

Showcasing 120 of photographer Gordon Thye's gorgeous, duotones, this coffee table book offers images that are sensitive, cheerful, aesthetic, and erotic. The photographs show a masterful use of light and shadow, with sharp and blurred focus that elicit a wide variety of emotions. The images include peaceful moments full of magic; stylized graphic compositions; surreal stage scenes; and erotic portraits of self-confident, young and beautiful women. With his aesthetically arranged poses, intentionally simple lighting, and an emphasis on the essential elements of design the photographer shows how little is actually required to achieve a great photograph.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Amphoto Books (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817455582
• ISBN-13: 978-0817455583
• Product Dimensions: 13.1 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,617,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable book!!!, October 21, 2004

By 

Isabella Valentine - www.IsabellaValentine.com (Bloomington, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nudes and Portraits (Hardcover)

Wow - this is definitely one of the best erotic photography books. This one is shot entirely in black and white and the poses and pictures and lighting are varied, sexy, and consistent. There are many different models used, all of them quite beautiful and sexy in my opinion. Gordon Thye is definitely a professional, it shows in every picture and the models he chose are by far some of the prettiest. There are about 125 pages all of them on heavy glossy type paper and the photos are jumbo size and take up the whole page and there is no writing, no text. Nothing but beautiful exotic women.

I am a collector of erotic photography books and more times than not, I am usually fairly disappointed. Not with this one. This is a remarkable book and a MUST HAVE for any artist or photography enthusiast.

36 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Bared Females, Freckles, Innocence & Elegance", December 24, 2005

By 

Russell A. Rohde MD "Owl" (West Covina, California USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nudes and Portraits (Hardcover)

"Nudes And Portraits," Gordon Thye, NY Watson-Guptil (AmPhoto) Books, 2004 ISBN: 0-8174-5558-2, HC 119 pgs., plus 6 pg. thumbnails, & 3 pgs. on Author, 13 1/4" x 9 7/8"

An artist's presentation of 106 B & W photographs on 119 pages, nearly every one a full-page reproduction, about half given modest borders. Overall, the author's models are attractive, young & overtly sensual by either looks, pose, minimal props, or now and then clothing. Thye's photographs have exqusite detail, bespeaking use of larger format studio cameras - none bear the tiniest hint of snapshot photography, but there is marvelous, generally simplistic, lighting for mood & for textural detail of eyes, lips, hair & freckles.

Stats: 42 photos did not show hand/fingers; 3 showed finger rings; 2 had jeweled navels, 2 wore earrings & 1 a necklace. Visible tattoos were the exception (5 models): 1 deltoid & thigh, 2 back, 1 abdomen & 1 chest. High heels featured on 14 models, while 2 or more models shown together in only 3 photos save a few multiple exposure of same model. Out-of-theme were 3 contrived postures: 1 panty-bra, 1 toilet scenic & 1 sought pubic sanctuary with a cluster of grapes.

In summary: an exquisite collection of young while blonde & brunette models of unusual spunky genre generally lacking in tattoos, jewelry, clothing, baring mostly all & whose physical features generally included natural free-style long hair, pert breasts, supple lips, looks of innocence & a generous sprinkling of wholesome facial freckles worn with elegance in complimentary lighting whilst freed of austere posing. Except for eye makeup, candid beauty is unveiled with a minimum of contrivences. Here is a good example of feminine pulchritude, a modicum of erotic charisma freed of pornographic or "para-erotic" particulars. The paper, printing & binding are first class. An excellent addition for the coffee table.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Nudes from a Master, October 26, 2004

By 

Michelle7 "Editor of Michelle7(dot)com" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nudes and Portraits (Hardcover)

This is a magnificent book of artistic nudes printed entirely in black & white. It features 120 duotones packaged in a hard cover with dimensions of 13" x 9.5". Each page presents a single, large print of a beautiful model. Few photographers working today can profess to match Gordon Thye for his sheer creative control in shooting nudes. His models, all of which are strikingly beautiful women, are each part of a larger graphic commandeered by Thye. His mastery of the lines and curves of his nude subjects, created through a combination of lighting techniques, posing maneuvers, and a brilliant sense of composition, make this one of the most thrilling works of nudes published this year.