There is an interesting book, published in 1958: Alexander Spoerl, "Mit der Kamera auf Du". It describes many aspects of photography, and there is a small section on "Aktaufnahme" = nude photography. In only is a few pages long, pp 194-197.
I am translating here this section, as it is somewhat relevant to the pictures I am making here.
NUDE PHOTOGRAPHY
There is never a compelling reason for it. But when being asked, then she is not a bad woman, but one who likes herself. And that is her right. The danger of nude photography is that we also like her. For the healthy man [this is from 1958; in our times now one might change this into: "For a hetero-man or a lesbian woman"]the nude female body is even then not without charm when would be something wrong with it. A cavalier has not to say anything about that. But a cavalier also does not always press the trigger. But despite pressing the trigger, one can still be a cavalier. Because one shall always then take a picture, when one thinks that the motive is beautiful.
The camera is cruel. A woman should think about it a hundred times. The lens changes beauty spots into displaced spots, changes female breasts into lumps of meat, changes the female bottom into a butt. Knees are bulging, and nicely shaped thighs turn into sabres. - With a nude woman our view becomes clouded. We are no longer composing with the camera, but aim.
A photographed nude is indeed not a nude photograph.
And a nude man is not necessarily a study.
But there is no reason to walk away with the camera from a nude human. - But one does not undress a human to photograph him/her, but one photographs him/her despite (s)he being undressed. When a human is undressed, there is a reason for it. Either changing clothes. That can be photographically attractive. Or (s)he takes a bath, then there is an even better motive. Or (s)he breathes fresh air, then one needs to see this in the face. In any case one needs to see on the picture why the pictured person is so completely nude.
For example, a nude girl in front of a buffet has no reason for being nude. It may happen, but is not believable.
A nude man on a bicycle may happen, but it looks unnatural.
Two node people form a "composition". If they are of opposite gender [This is from 1958. In today's world one would write "If they are attracted to each other"], then this may even be a "scene". - With a composition, it is important how beautiful it is. With a scene it is important that is states something. Photographed indecency is not a scene but is smut.
The safest nude picture the one which is not made.
The best nude picture is the one which is made despite this.
