Having grown up in Norway, I have to admit that Rugby has never been on my radar. However, having married a Welsh woman, the game came as part of the parcel. I still have a hard time getting my head around all the rules, but I have started enjoying watching the game. I also admire the physicality of the game. The men and women who play the game sure aren’t afraid of a few bumps and bruises.
Gareth Thomas is welsh by name, and welsh by game! Yes - one of the most well known and respected Welsh rugby players. Not only has he shown guts and courage on the pitch, but he has also been open about his sexuality and having been diagnosed as HIV positive. Gareth has had guts to come forward writing books about his experience, his sexuality and his diagnosis. This shoot was for Gareth’s last book, a frank tale of his own life and experiences.
This shoot took place at a golf club in Wales. We had the changing room to our disposal. Gareth, was as fun and kind as you’d hope he would be. It’s a characteristic I find many of the rugby players have photographed are not brash or arrogant, but friendly and forthcoming.
Shot for Penguin / Ebury Press
The issue of being nude in a public space is still something most people would frown upon. I grew up in Norway where, when on cabin holiday somewhere remote, we would sometimes just jump in the lake naked. The women at the beach would normally not wear a bikini top and this was all normal. (I would say that it is probably less normal for women to be topless in Norway now for some reason. A case of being a Scandinavian child of the 70’s I suspect).
The UK has become more relaxed on the other hand. Although being naked publicly is restricted to certain areas, often sections of a beach for example, it has become excepted by many as an alternative and acceptable choice. This project, to photograph people who embrace nudity in public spaces, people had to be subtly covered up not to reveal anything. I can of course completely understand it, as completely nude images in a non pornographic magazine, would be deemed as offensive to many. However, the idea of covering up the nude body in order to show the freedom enjoyed by people who like to be nude publicly, is a little contradictory. In fact, it was a conversation that came up in the beginning of this shoot with one of the naturists. One man who took part rightly enough said that the idea of being nude publicly is to desexualise the body and enjoy it as something natural. The body, in all its different sizes and shapes, should not be hidden. Everyone should be proud of their unique shape and sizes. However, when trying to cover up boobs and ‘bits’ (as we so politely refer to sexual organs,) we sensor it as it is something ‘sexual’, and therefor the message of being a naturist is further confused.
However, this is not a battle I would win on a four portraits feature, so onwards and upwards. The props were brought out and we started by shooting one couple - Fiona and Michael - at the nudist holiday campsite in West Sussex, one couple - Simon and Helen - in a garden like setting, an other couple - Jan and Alena - in a kitchen environment and lastly, in deepest, darkest Herefordshire, a girl - Beatrice - who likes to be nude alone, in the forest and fields near where she lives. Glasses carefully placed, ping pong ball thrown in to cover a nipple, a tomato being cut on a kitchen bench to cover a penis, Apples in an apple orchard to cover both breasts and genitalia, I even tried (less successfully I have to admit) bubbles to cover up the nudity in a subtle way.
Finally - how to create a feel and look when you work at different locations and are not sure what the weather will do. I decided to create a hazy summery feel to give the feeling of some 70’s style summer. In that way we would have consistency and a look that was appropriate throughout.
A fun challenge indeed.
Shot for You Magazine
