Customer Reviews

Tuscany Nudes

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

 

 

This is Petter Hegre's strongest collection of imagery published in a long time; at least since his book, "LUBA" hit the shelves in 2003, and possibly since his first major publication, "My Wife" (2000). Given the strength of these two masterpieces, that's saying a lot. "Tuscany Nudes" is entirely comprised of black & white (tri-tone) photographs and there is a more elegant sense of composition and attention to scenery than in most of Hegre's previous efforts. Much of the material was shot at an amazingly opulent 16th century villa that was originally built for the Machiavelli family. The charming architecture, lovely vistas, and intoxicating sights of the Tuscany region a the key ingredient to this epic body of work - that the subjects themselves are exquisitely beautiful makes "Tuscany Nudes" all the more special.

I have to admit that I have mixed feelings with respect to this book. As you can see by the rating I gave, I do think it is fairly good, but for a photographer of the caliber and trajectory of Peter Hegre, I was expecting a bit more.

Let's start for the good things regarding this book. First, of course, each model in this book is breath taking, absolutely stunning. Combine this with amazing locations, that I bet were carefully chosen to make you fill at times as if you were watching at the Tuscany of the time of the Medici, or the views that inspired Puccini to write La Boheme and Madame Butterfly. To that, add a hardly arguable mastery of technique and style with the camera, in posing the model, in playing with lights and shadows. In few words, it is visually stimulating. I may go as far as the last reviewer and call it exquisite.

But if it is exquisite, why didn't I rate it with five stars? Well, because there is that "je ne sais quoi" missing. Hegre has been around for a while, and it seems his focus on stylistic perfection is making him forget that once you've seen an image before, technique and quality can make it more pleasant, but it does not surprise. Most images are definitely not new. It is the kind of photograph you've seen before, a slightly different setting, a different model, a tiny difference in angle, but it is there in the collective conscious of those of us who are fond of artistic nude photography. There area a few exceptions (like in the cover and its sequence, or those he took of Luba), but they are maybe 10% of the photos of the book.

There are also two observations I would like to make. First, to the editor, multi-page photographies work fine in centerfolds of magazines, but in thick, well binded books... well, not so much. And to Peter himself, Your taste in models is magnificent, but with the possible exception of Joyce, and maybe Jennipher, all others are very clearly Caucasian. Don't get me wrong, I think Caucasian women are beautiful, I am married to one. But with the access a photographer like Peter oughta have of models, I am sure he could easily find a more multiracial set of subjects for his books.

The book makes a fine piece for a coffee table at an appropriate place and situation. But it could have been much better.

This is an excellent book with extra quality prints. The style of photographs are just for this black & white choise. Let me advice you if you're looking for picture to desing or sketch this is the better choise...