Customer Reviews

Petals

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am a human sexuality professor and use pictures of "Petals" in my classroom. The soft tone of the pictures are a great way to introduce the vulva to beginners who have never really seen vulvas up close and who believe there is only one norm. Quite often after class I am flooded with comments about how these pictures made many of the women feel better about themselves and find beauty in their own petals. I also receive an overwelming response from the men in my classes too. Many have not seen such a wide variety in an up close setting. There are some petals that are shown without hair but this is only a reflection of the times and trends that are seen in pubic hair.

This book is always a coversation starter not only in my classroom but in my personal life as well. many of my friends when over will go through the book and tell me how they always were uncomfortable with their genitals...but now their genitals have become their "petals" and instead of viewing them as uncomfortable, now they are works of art.

All in all I commend Nick Karras for making such a bold move to tackle a topic that many people are fearful and possibly disgusted by and make it into something as beautiful as Petals.

Working as an NP with both men and women who ask me 5 days a week if their 'petals' (I love that word) or the petals of their partners are normal I open up this book and give them time to look thru it..
The vast majority of the time I have had pleased and grateful reviewers. The most common remark is 'not only is mine normal but perhaps.... even beautiful!
I love the reminder that what is sometimes taken for granted, is indeed something to be cherished. Beautiful work!!

I got this book because my therapist recommended it. I just never thought my vulva was normal, (obviously, I never thought it was even remotely close to beautiful) so sexual connection had been somewhat compromised.
I gotta say...this book changed my world. I am so glad he did this in soft sepia tone. I couldn't have looked at it in full color... Although I do understand that full color probably is better for men or someone who wants to see them in more "raw" form. For me, personally, as I just always thought vulva was not a beautiful thing, sepia tone and the artistic yet realistic portrait of vulva was just simply...perfect.
Page by page, I gasped. At first, my reaction was...oh my, everyone is different! Then, I started to see the beauty in them. As I paid more and more attention (as they invite you in), I was fascinated by the individual uniqueness and its beauty. I now thought, wow, the vulva is beautiful.
Now, I looked at myself. What looked like the ugliest, strangest thing on earth now looks beautiful!!! I could not believe it!! This must be art therapy.
Anyway, thank you, Nick Karras, for making this amazing book.

Nick Karras's lovely photos capture that most delicate and unique of a woman's features, her outer genitals. Over forty examples appear here, printed in a warm, almost romantic monochrome. Because of the intimate nature of these photos and because of each viewer's personal associations, responses to these photos are sure to be highly varied and individual.

One response simply takes these organic forms as visual abstractions. Viewed that way, simplicity of the basic structure and complexity of the variations create a rich balance that human artists rarely achieve. Another viewer might see these anatomical photos, isolating just of her body's features, as depersonalizing. Paradoxically, one could also see these as deeply personal. Outside of doctors, most people encounter a vulva (other than one's own) only in deeply intimate settings. It seems quite proper that a woman might reserve the most distinctive parts of her physical self for those who already appreciate her uniqueness most. A book like this helps the viewer realize just how wide the range of possible appearances can be, and so emphasizes the individuality of each one.

This book goes well beyond Femalia in some ways. Both books document a range of individual looks, and help to educate men and women in how many different kinds of appearance are all "normal." Karras does more, though. It's slip-case, warm and airy appearance, and rich look and feel all convey respect and importance. That sense of respect, possibly bordering on worship, suits these photos perfectly, and the models' anonymity extends that respect to women everywhere.

-- wiredweird

There are very few books that celebrate female beauty like this. In fact I only know one more: Femalia by Joani Blank. Like some other readers, I would have preferred full color, but even in b/w these intimate portraits are mezmerising.

The sepia tones of the images show feminine wholeness through such a soft and beautiful lens. What a lovely way to see woman! The gentle images are empowering and so incredibly female, it's breath taking. There is so much care that comes through...

This book is in direct contrast to Femalia which is a full color demonstration of men spreading women open. *Blech* Not remotely similiar... thankfully!

Nick Karras has done a rare and very original thing in this book of photography. He has made erotic pictures that appeal equally to women and men. It's utterly mesmerizing.

petals lives up to the expectation of the other reviews. the sepia tones made it soft, alluring and uniformed, yet the same time bald, honest and right in the face (i'm not saying color photos arn't, it's just that sometimes a glaring light w/ a color photo doesn't turn out 'atmopherical', so to speak).

good job, i dig it~

When I first opened this book I wasn't sure what to expect. I love the title and all the different pictures. It really shows that we are all different and maybe a little the same. Some people may open this book, look at the pictures and close it right away or really look at each one and appreciate the photos. I know many women don't even look or know what there petals vulva looks like. This book hopefully will open peoples minds and start really knowing who they are and know their body. Love every inch of your body. This helped me and I bet others. Check it out. This will be a step to loving your petals and realizing yours may look like one in the book. Enjoy I know I did!!!

Thank You for this wonderful book! What an amazing collection of photographs with obvious heart behind them.

I found this book to be beautiful as well as educational. It also helped me to accept my body, with the realization that we are all made differently. I think that this book is also a healing tool for women and men alike.

I highly recommend owning a copy and checking out the documentary as well.