I would like to reprise here a feature I have written for Univers d'Artistes (UdA) about photographer Jane Lancashire, from Tunbridge Wells.
I have admired Jane's photography ever since I first saw her work. I particularly wanted her to be featured in UdA because what she does stretches the concept of fine art nude and takes it to a different level. We are so used to seeing and hearing about 'fine art nude models' and I am myself one. Jane works with women who do not wish to be models. I have a long interview with her and am publishing it here and for once in my blog I am using photos that are not of me. This post should be read in conjunction with the one in UdA.
"Over the last six years" says Jane "I have found myself regularly becoming an unknown woman's "new best friend" for the day. I'm a photographer, specialising in taking photographs of normal women like myself in the nude. My mission is to help re-balance many women's negative body image, by reminding them of all the other aspects of their body that are pretty spectacular.
How easy it is to forget the good bits we have, and to define ourselves only by the bits that we'd love to change. When the media force-feeds us a barrage of exceptionally slim and beautiful airbrushed people every day, negative body image can become a sad inevitability of life and it becomes increasingly difficult to keep things in perspective. And it doesn't help that we are all used to seeing our bodies from highly unflattering angles, such as when we are trying on clothes in a brightly-lit changing room.
For centuries, artists have celebrated the natural curves of the feminine form of all sizes. I offer ordinary women the chance to become a piece of art that they can hang on the wall to remind themselves how beautiful they are. I show ladies their bodies from a different perspective by focusing on a shape or angle that they don't normally see. As soon as we sit up, stand or twist round, our bodies create beautiful and often very flattering shapes. Shapes that will show off forgotten legs, stunning curves, elegant feet and hands, shapely backs, long lean necks and so on. My work attempts to show women aspects of their body from unusual angles and positions giving them that much needed reminder of how gorgeous they are.
My ladies come to me for many reasons but the two most common are the "Pick-Me-Ups" and the "Celebrations". The "Pick-Me-Ups" include ladies that have been through messy divorces and other emotional hardships and are really feeling at rock bottom. These ladies often realise that they need to re-build their self esteem before they can move on. After seeing themselves for years in the context of a failing relationship, it is highly therapeutic to leave behind this negative image and see themselves through new eyes. Many other women come to me as they wish to present the photos to a loved one as a surprise wedding, valentine, anniversary, birthday or Christmas gift. Having run out of original ideas, they know that this will really put a smile on their partner's face! I have worked with women aged from 18 to 80 and nearly all of them have said that their partners would never believe they had the courage to strip off in front of the camera! But they do - giving their partner a beautiful and uniquely romantic present that is guaranteed to make him smile.
Ladies also come to treat themselves to mark milestone birthdays (30, 40, 50, 60, etc) or important journeys through life, eg. recovering from breast cancer or operations that may have left permanent scarring and/or significant weight loss. This often seems to bring a exhilarating sense of empowerment, a 'coming-to-terms' and acceptance of who they are.
One lady had lost five stone over three years and needed the new images to help her accept this new shape. She told me it took months to believe and accept this was really her - as the former image of a much larger her was so firmly etched into her mind.
Another client came to see me after putting weight back on! She had initially lost three stone to conform to society's stereotype of the 'perfect' woman, but couldn't reconcile this new slim body with who she felt she was. She put the weight back on and came to celebrate feeling comfortable in her own skin once more - back at healthy size 16.
Being a naturally pear-shaped woman myself, I try to imagine that every client is me, taking only angles I would be happy with seeing myself. I know exactly which bits to hide with strategic swathes of fabric, clever angles or a bit of stretching! Sometimes I re-create famous photos, paintings or even CD covers that my clients bring me - where they become the main subject. Plus I know a fabulous body artist who can give my clients the experience of looking like they're on the front cover of Vanity Fair! All this is enormous fun and again gives everyday women the chance to see themselves as stunning models.
The only things I ever airbrush are bruises and spots, as these are only temporary. I never alter the actual shape of anyone, as that would defeat the whole point - celebrating real-life beauty. I play with light and colour in my designs but the shapes are always genuine.
To date, all of my clients have been truly delighted. I have had many tears and cuddles when women see the results and many have said that it is a life-enhancing experience (as well as a hugely enjoyable day to tell all their friends about). One lady remarked that she holds even herself better and walks taller having seen the photos of herself"
I love Jane's work and totally endorse her philosophy. I became a model late in life and that was the result of me feeling more and more confident about myself. But I have always maintained that all women are beautiful and they can be beautiful models.
The fine art nude as a photographic genre is dominated by male photographers, very often middle aged, projecting their vision of beauty and their fantasies and thus only interested in photographing young women with a particular body type. Male nudes are not so frequent - unless the photographer happens to be gay. I have recently taken up photography and am particularly interested in working with male models, to redress the balance.
But the work Jane does is fantastic. It truly has the potential of redefining the nude in photography. I admire Jane's nudes as much as I admire nudes posed by conventional models.
And I support the women that have taken the plunge and decided to take their clothes off, to show off their beauty.
(All photos unless otherwise stated are by Jane Lancashire. The women who posed for them wish to remain anonymous)
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