2009-06-13 • Tom Suhler wraps shooting of premiere fine art nude collection

Yesterday marked the end of shooting for Tom Suhler's initial fine art nude project. The four-month project yielded more than 1900 photographs was inspired by a desire to study beauty, dance, and character motivation in the female form.

Shooting began May 1, 2009 after two months of preproduction studying dance, developing a singular and compelling lighting style, and interviewing models. The shooting studio was a rented warehouse space, devoid of typical studio trappings.

"I spent lots of hours looking at photographs of ballet and modern styles," says Suhler, "looking for pieces that could help me direct the models. If a picture contained five or six dancers I might be attracted to the arc of one particular arm. Then I would try to find ways to play off that arc. Maybe continuing it through the leg; maybe working against it."

"Unfortunately shooting started two months later than I had hoped. That meant working without air conditioning in Austin during May and June. It was hot!"

The great unexpected pleasure, Tom says, was how well everyone worked together. He hadn’t worked with any of these models before. "I brought in ideas of form and motivation then we all collaborated to bring those ideas to life,” Suhler said. “Often we would start with an concept and end up with something completely different. Sometimes ideas would come together in five minutes. Other times we spent 45 minutes on an idea that never quite jelled. But in every one of the seven sessions time flew. Before you knew it we would be four or five hours into the shoot."

Now the collection moves into post production. Many of the photographs will find their way into a coffee table book. A select few will be offered as signed limited edition prints in sizes up to 24 by 36 inches.