In this art nude photograph, a couple in the nude share a brilliant blue swim. Their bodies are aligned; one faces up, the other is away from us. Their bodies are mostly submerged. However, faces, shoulders, a breast, and a thigh pierce the surface.
Their feet fade into a funhouse mirror effect beneath the ripples. Their bodies are rimmed in turquoise that blends into the blue that surrounds them. Sparkling highlights dance on the surface: evidence of the sun that warms them.
Their shoulders are angled to form a line.
These compantions are as inseparable as the colors of the water: individuals yet part of a whole. They intertwine arms, signifying their union. There is a physical connection, though the exact link is unclear. The couple gazes admiringly at one another. One looks with a swivel of her head, the other by casting her eyes. The merger is both ambiguous and curious.
Their bodies are in similar poses, with several distinct differences. The four thighs are all parallel. Both torsos twist similarly. And the four shoulders form a straight line, continued by their arms.
Contrasting personalities are explained by their contrasting glances. One is introspective and the other is extroverted. Their postures echo these attitudes. One floats with outstretched arms. The other willingly, but reservedly, receives her touch, with a folded arm, and tucked leg. To underscore the comparison, they each literally show a different side. One has her back exposed, the other her front.
Several factors impart a sense of motion to this design. The figures lay diagonally to the image frame. From the hips down, they are off-center to the left. At their heads, they are off-center to the right. Only near their crossed elbows are they centered. This draws additional attention to the union. From head to toe, the bodies are also staggered. One’s head is closer to the top. Although balanced on whole, the other figure is closer to the bottom edge.
The composition of this art nude photograph relies on the repetition of lines and shapes. The legs, torso, and arms, create lines that often run in parallel. Patterns of light and dark reflections and refractions decorate the bodies. Swirls, bubbles, and tiny waves punctuate the image.
