Wonderful bodyscape pics

[Cheyenne]

http://www.bodyscapes.com/
Allan Teger - artist

Have you ever seen that picture of the woman with the lawnmower tat about to mow her bush? Well, this artist has lots of wonderful pictures of the human body in different scenes. I saw his work at a fine arts festival today, and it is beautiful! The internet pictures don't do it justice, but you CAN order them from his site.

And no, I don't get any royalties from this plug of a "product," either.

 

[Cheyenne]

http://www.bodyscapes.com/pussycats.htm

I think this is one of my favorites.

 

[Cheyenne]

http://www.bodyscapes.com/400crane.htm

This one makes me think of Dilly, for some reason.

 

[perks]

these are great Chey!

 

[unclej]

those are great. i seem to remember something like that back when i used to read playboy. got any idea how long he's been around?

 

[Guest]

http://www.bodyscapes.com/pussycats.htm

I think this is one of my favorites.

_________

Damn Cheyenne!

Many's next AV may come from there!

Thanks!

 

[Cheyenne]

They are all copyright pictures, everyone. Here's the info from his website about the artist:

People often ask me where the idea for my Bodyscapes® originated. I have to confess that it didn't come from an interest in photographing nudes or from studio photography. Self taught as a photographer, I was originally trained as a social psychologist. Bodyscapes® evolved from my study of psychology.

During the 70's I was involved in teaching and academic counseling at the University of Pennsylvania, and had volunteered as a drug counselor at a free clinic in Philadelphia. I had begun to feel that traditional academic psychology wasn't really addressing the issues of the inner journey or the way in which we view the world.

Books on consciousness, mysticism, meditation, drug experiences and altered realities were just beginning to make it into popular culture. As a result, my interests began to evolve and my teaching became less traditional. I began teaching my students to meditate. We were reading the Tao Te Ching, The Bhagavad-Gita, books by Ram Dass, Carl Rogers. Castenada, Huxley, Watts and others. The concepts of altered realities, subjective reality, and mystical consciousness were becoming a part of my thinking.

I wanted to demonstrate in art the ideas that I was studying and teaching. The theme that occupied my thoughts was one of multiple realities. I had read many accounts of adventures in mystical consciousness and was certain that the most basic concept to understand and accept is that two realities can exist simultaneously. Both can be correct even though each is different. In 1975 I turned to photography as the medium to illustrate the coexistence of two realities.

I remember the moment that the idea for Bodyscapes® came to me. I was thinking that the shape and structure of the universe repeated itself at every level and suddenly I had the image in my mind of a skier going down a breast. This was it - the universe repeating its shapes - a body looking like a mountain. It was also an example of two realities coexisting. The picture could be seen as a landscape and it could also be seen as a body. Although they were different, both perceptions were right at the same time. I knew instantly that I had an entire series of images waiting to be captured on film.

Within a week or two I had my first model and began shooting. I was a complete newcomer in the world of art. I had never taken a course in photography, art, or art history, and had no idea that other people had ever thought of the similarity of bodies and landscapes. So I approached the project with naive energy, convinced that I was breaking new ground with each exposure.

I created these images by placing toys and miniatures on the body and shooting the picture as a single exposure. I knew it was possible to produce multiple exposure images such as photo montages, but felt that if it were to appear real to the viewer, it had to actually be real at some level...with the figure and the body together at the same time. Furthermore, I didn't want to resort to camera or darkroom tricks as that would make the work less credible.

Over the years I have discovered that art can be fun and serious at the same time. I have always believed that in the end an artist needs to communicate to the viewer, and involve them in the work to complete the experience. I feel that my art is complete when a viewer reacts to it. I have enjoyed creating Bodyscapes® and I enjoy sharing them with others and seeing their response.

It is always fun and interesting to see people discover for the first time, that the landscapes that they were looking at were really human bodies. Some people never see it until their friends point it out to them. Some look at the whole collection and then ask me what I mean by "Bodyscapes"®, or ask me which mountains I photographed. It's hard to keep a straight face as they puzzle over the photographs - knowing they are missing something and looking for clues to the answer.

My favorite story is about a couple with a young boy who appeared to be five years old. His parents asked him if he knew where the photographs had been taken. He answered with great certainty.'Yes", he said, 'California'! Some parents use the photographs as a teaching opportunity - pointing out the beauty of the naked body as a landscape. Several times I have seen young children explain to their older, less observant parents, the hidden truth of the images.

Some people hang these images in their homes and offices and their families and friends do not realize for years that the images contain bodies. Therapists tell me they could psychoanalyze me because of this work. I have had people tell me I am "sick" (usually with a smile!), and others tell me that I brighten their day and give them a new way of looking at the world. Some ask where I get the "little people", and others ask where I find a landscape that looks just like a body. Some are serious, some are joking - but, in the end, I find that people are generally fascinated by them.

My interest in photography began when I received my first camera at the age of 13. In both high school and college I was the photography editor of the newspaper and yearbook. I then put photography on hold while I pursued a career in psychology. I began the Bodyscapes in l975 and left academics in l981 to devote my full time to art photography.

Most of the Bodyscapes® were shot with a medium format Mamiya RB67 and either Tri-X or T-Max film. The regular edition Bodyscapes® are printed on Ilford Multigrade paper, and the collector's edition is printed on Agfa Classic 118 fiber paper. Bodyscape® photographs are issued as signed and numbered limited edition prints. My camera is a medium format Mamiya RB67.

 

[desert spike]

I like this one. I have bird feeders out in my yard. Love to hear the birds chipping in the morning.

http://www.bodyscapes.com/400birdhouse.htm

 

[Cheyenne]

I've seen the actual photographs at the art show and they are very beautiful. You really don't notice that these are pictures of naked bodies unless you walk up and look closely. I heard two women at the show talking about how they thought the pictures were of sand dunes until they really looked at them. That's a very good description- sand dunes from a distance. The shading is just perfect for each scene.

http://www.bodyscapes.com/400fishinginnavel.htm

Another favorite.

 

[Cheyenne]

The artist has his email address posted on the website so I sent him the link to this thread and an invitation to come join us. He seems to have the kind of mind that would fit in well at Lit, based on his love for the human body as evidenced in these pics.

 

[*bratcat*]

 

[Cheyenne]

That is one that I used as an av for a long time.

Hmmm... I don't remember it from your av. And since the pics are all copyright material, the artist may not like for them to be used as av's here. I don't know. I'm not trying to encourage people to do that, I just want them to see the work. And be able to buy it if they like it and have an appropriate place to display it. Unfortunately, the Cheyenne abode has too many paintings/ prints/ etc. on the walls already.

 

[*bratcat*]

 

[Guest]

Too Cool! Dilly would like that one, yes. I remember seeing one of those as an av, too - like Dec or Jan if I recall.

Chey, where did you get the pic for your av anyway? You take it yourself?

 

[Cheyenne]

Too Cool! Dilly would like that one, yes. I remember seeing one of those as an av, too - like Dec or Jan if I recall.

Chey, where did you get the pic for your av anyway? You take it yourself?

While I've been in NY and I've done the boat tour around the Statue, I didn't take it myself. I'm not that good with a camera. Ahem.

I got the av from modest mouse after I posted a thread asking for pictures of Lady Liberty. I have others, but I really like this one. Bet you didn't guess that!

 

[shyybabe]

I love these pics. This one has to be my favourite even though I don't like winter.

http://www.bodyscapes.com/snowman.htm

 

[christophe]

loved the thread.......some really good ones

 

[Mellon Collie]

These are really, really cute, thanks Chey.

 

[ksmybuttons]

This little guy could come and visit me anytime. I am fantasizing about all the places on my body he can visit after his nap...

http://www.bodyscapes.com/images/400nap_small.jpg

 

[ShamelessFlirt]

is this one of his? I love this one ...

 

[Cheyenne]

is this one of his? I love this one ...

I don't think so, only because all of them at his website are in black and white.

I like this one, too. I can FEEL the guys mountain climbing.
http://www.bodyscapes.com/400mtclimbers.htm

 

[ShamelessFlirt]

I don't think so, only because all of them at his website are in black and white.

I like this one, too. I can FEEL the guys mountain climbing.
http://www.bodyscapes.com/400mtclimbers.htm

Yeah, but don't they stick that pointy mountain climber thingee at the peak when they hit the top? And leave a flag?

 

[Cheyenne]

Yeah, but don't they stick that pointy mountain climber thingee at the peak when they hit the top? And leave a flag?

 

[Cheyenne]

*bump* for the weekend shift.