Figure art photography
Elinore is mid-stroke, powering through blue water. Admirers of figure art photography can follow fine art nude or pin-up genres. This image bridges the two categories. With a bit of a retro feel, indicated in the title, there is a blend of sensuality and modesty.
The color palette is simple: mostly blue, with the body contrasting with its surroundings. The blues range from indigo to cyan. Her face is a focal point, her parted lips stand out amongst the predominant colors. Her expression reveals she is absorbed in her activity. She is taking a breath and surveying her general vicinity.
Her hip is near the surface as she kicks and water swirls around her knee. Bubbles punctuate the mix of ripples, shadows, and reflections. Her arms are poised to reach out for another stroke. Brunette hair is swept back against the direction of movement.
There is a subtle division between to top and bottom halves of this photograph. The lower half is dark, the upper is light. The woman’s nude figure sits above the midpoint of the artwork, as if she’s on top of the division, rather than in the water. Throughout this, the intensity of the reflections is constant. Streamers of white reflection accent the blue swirls. This gives us a high contrast in the lower portions and a more unified upper portion.
The image has a soft, painterly quality. Figure art photography showcases the feminine form. In this piece, this is accomplished by abstracting the form and pairing it with patterns. Her body is presented as its basic components, devoid of small details. The rippled edges of the figure blend into the surrounding art. Features are defined by smooth tones, a departure from traditional detail-oriented photography.
Influences for this piece of figure art photography include Ophelia, the oil painting by John Everett Millais.
This photograph is somewhat reserved in it’s presentation of the nude body. Other works of mine are more inspired by pinup artwork.
