Happy Friday, I have enjoyed the comments on my piece and the exchange resulting from its posting. I gladly welcome the response I've received from my first submission. It takes me back to my grad school days when I brought my projects to class where my peers vilified the pieces for objectifying the female form, etc. I welcome a greater sense of objective criticism from this group. Following my thesis I avoided the nude as a subject for 11 years. I was ?embarrassed? or ?ashamed? of my interest in the nude and was not up for a fight. I started this project last summer after making a concerted effort to create a cohesive body of work. I thought it only fair since I was teaching photography that I should start producing again. Through much therapy and tremendous support from my wife, who posed for my thesis show, is not the model here but, was present at the shoot as my assistant, I persevered and completed my first show in 11 years. Over this time I have carefully examined my feelings and attitudes about the nude female as subject. Am I a deprived pervert? Am I making up for something denied in my life? Am I fulfilling a relationship or sexual void? No. I like photographing the nude in abandoned man-made locations. I respond positively to the classic nude figure in these settings. The images speak volumes to me and I hope they maintain some level of artistic value. The nude - no clothing, no jewelry, no sense of time, social standing, culture or style. It provides the sense of humanity connecting with a location without an individual imprint. I look forward to contributing more images. Jeff ===== Jeff McSweeney Photographer www.jeffmcsweeney.com w. 309.467.6313 / h. 309.467.5580 mcsweeney@bigfoot.com
