Mike Crawley's Photographing the Nude is a thoroughly practical and inspiring guide for photographers of all levels. It begins by setting out a number of basic skills: nude photography shares many of the same technical problems as other areas of portraiture, and developing a sound understanding of the basics is the key to success. Mike demonstrates a wide range of classic lighting techniques, from soft diffuse lighting for a romantic mood to contrasty lighting to emphasize the contours and musculature of the body. Knowing what poses are good for figure work is also essential: specially commissioned photographic sequences demonstrate the do's and don'ts. Once you've mastered these aspects, you're ready to move on to more creative shots such as semi-abstracts, mood-creating shots involving the use of props and backgrounds, and technical challenges such as infra-red or toned prints, and digital manipulations. Backed up with sound practical information, the shots shown here are guaranteed to inspire. Chapters on darkroom and digital know-how form the final reference section. Whether you work in colour or in black and white, using a traditional darkroom or a computer, this book is an in