Causal Nudity With The Rolleiflex TLR
Like a lot of photographers it is not uncommon for me to just simply have a camera with me, even when I have no intention of doing any kind of “serious” work. On a lazy summer afternoon I went to the local clothing optional beach with a friend of mine just to spend the day soaking up some sun, dip our toes in the water, and really just exist in the most lazy and casual way possible.
I brought my Rolleiflex TLR with me loading up with a roll of Ilford FP4 film. I figured I might expose a few frames while I was there of driftwood or perhaps a sail boat drifting by the shore. Instead my friend and I ended up exposing a few frames of each other just for fun. The pictures of me are terrible and I’m sure nobody wants to see them. This image on the other hand turned out pretty great.
It was the middle of the afternoon, which typically isn’t the time of day I like for photographing nudes and figure studies but in some ways the harsh light actually worked out in my favor. There is a real feeling of the sun just dumping its light and warmth down on the scene which gives it all a real summer interlude sort of vibe. It matches my overall impression and memory of the day at least.
Camera: Rolleiflex TLR
Film: Ilford FP4 in medium format. Developed in Rodinal.
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