Gregory

You should check out my photography website at GregoryGore.com
From time to time, I get criticism about shooting nude photos of models. It's funny to me how upset some people get over the human body! So, I have given it some thought. Is nudity wrong? Is it a "sin" for someone to be naked in front of others? Recently, I saw a movie about the life of the famous pin-up model, Bettie Page, titled "The Notorious Bettie Page". Following her career as a fetish/nude pin-up model, Bettie rediscovered her religion and stopped modeling. However, when asked by a gentlemen if she was ashamed of her naked past, she replied to the effect, "Sir, it was only after Adam and Eve sinned that they put clothes on." I think that pretty much sums it up!! Neither Hitler nor George Bush nor Bin Laden ever posed nude, but looked how many people they've killed! Did Marilyn Monroe or Pamela Anderson ever kill anyone? I don't think so! Clothes are good. I love fashion. I believe in personal hygiene and protecting oneself from the elements. I often feel self-conscious of my flaws...there are days when I would be happy to wear a burka! I also love art. From Michaelangelo to Picasso to Andy Warhol, nudity has been part of the repertoire of many famous and talented artists. Why? Is it because of the beauty of the human body? Is it exploring and exposing a part of nature and of human nature? Is it appealing to the senses? Is it creating a fantasy? I think nudity in art can be some or all of those things. In 5th grade, I got a spanking from a librarian for drawing a picture of a Hawaiian hula dancer with a grass skirt and a bikini top. I was raised in a very conservative environment. In extremist Muslim countries, men and women are killed for their sexuality. When I think of the kind of people who enjoy nudity and those who condemn it, I feel much safer and more at home with the nudists!! :-) I will continue to include nudity and human sensuality in my photography. I am proud of that part of my work and I think it is beautiful and meaningful. Being nude is being vulnerable and free and honest. It can also be an act of defiance against the oppressive elements of religion and politics. I like to portray those qualities in my artwork and I will continue to do so. I hope you enjoy my work. With love, Greg www.gregorygore.com