This original nude photograph depicts a scene in black and white. We see her mostly from the back, with the side of her face visible. The image is tightly cropped, showcasing the musculature of her back and arms as she climbs. Slick, long blonde hair sticks to her back and shoulders. Her skin glows, as if it is late in the afternoon of a hot day.
Droplets and a few streams of water trickling down her torso add to the immediacy and kinetic feeling of her activity. Below her is the water, with ripples highlighted with the glare of bright sun. We can imagine the motion of the light as it dances across the wavelets stirred up by her ascent from the pool.
She grabs the top of the chrome ladder with both hands. Her right arm is outstretched into the darkness of the background foliage. At the nearby bend in the ladder railing, the sun is reflected directly, creating a spot of pure white.
We see the edge of the pool at an angle, rather than a more predictable straight-on alignment. This creates a more dynamic division between water and poolside. The bright edge of the pool clearly emphasizes this diagonal that runs askew to the vertical and horizontal picture edges.
Narrative
Beca, we can safely assume, is the main character climbing out of the swimming pool. Nikki, mentioned in the title, is the unseen owner of the swimming pool. The relationship of these two characters is not explained. We might consider why Beca is in Nikki’s pool; perhaps she doesn’t have one of her own to enjoy. From this one might contemplate an asymmetry to the relationship.
The title has a personal connection to the artist’s formative years and artistic influences. It is reminiscent of the story behind pop artist Hockney’s “…Getting Out of Nick’s Pool.”
Composition
The main figure is rendered in tones of middle grays. She is set against a dense background. There are few highlights in this photograph. The droplets of water on her body, the edge of the pool, and reflections in the chrome ladder are the most noticeable. Although her skin is rendered with low tonal contrast, she stands out against the unusually dark foliage behind her.
The linear structure of the image is dynamic. There are few horizontal and vertical elements that align with picture frame. The bright pool edge sharply bisects the upper and lower portions at an angle. The ladder rails bend as they rise.
This original nude photograph is a signed original and printed with 100% archival materials. This is a black and white art photograph featuring a nude near a swimming pool. If you’re looking for something slightly different consider a colorful swimming pool limited edition.
