Celebrating the Female Form
The Full Body Project is a collection of 50 black and white nude photographs of the plus size form interspersed between 196 black and white pages. While it is not the first of its kind it is a welcome addition to members of the plus size community and beyond.
This lens is dedicated to The Full Body Project.
The Photographer
A life long love of the art...
At 76, Leonard Nimoy has had a blessed career as an actor, author, director and photographer. Anyone who recognizes probably knows him best as the pop culture icon Spock from the television series (and movie franchise) Star Trek.He has had a life-long love of photography studing at UCLA with the late artist Robert Heinecken. Nimoy has lectured on photography and has his images displayed in galleries, museums and private collections.
The Full Body Project differs from Nimoy's previous work with professional models who were chosen for their qualities over their personalities to represent idea or theme he wanted to express. It's been a new and exciting learning experience for everyone involved.
Leonard Nimoy's Official Photography website.
Add The Full Body Project to your Library
The Full Body Project: Photographs by Leonard Nimoy
Amazon Price: $29.70 (as of 11/07/2009) 
"The women in these pages are proudly wearing their own skins. They accept and respect themselves, and I hope that my images convey that feeling to others." ~ Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy
At a glance...
Wikipedia has a great introduction into the world of Leonard Nimoy including information on his Jewish heritage; stage and screen career; and his literary and musical works.
Leonard Simon Nimoy (; born March 26, 1931) is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. He is famous for playing the character of Spock on Category: Star Trek - : The Original Series|the original Star Trek series, and he reprised the role in various movie and television sequels.
The Muses
Shaking what god gave them...
While showing some of the images from his first book, Shekhina, Nimoy was approached by a plus size woman who asked to be included in his nude study portfolio. The images from that photo shoot received an interesting response that led him on a path to learn more about the plus size form and the attitudes and stereotypes that surround them.His search to know more led him to fat activist Heather MacAllister who introduced Nimoy to her plus size performance group out of San Francisco, The Big Burlesque and Fat-Bottom Revue. These women are the main focus of this collection.
Visit Big Burlesque's official website.
"Anytime a fat person gets on a stage to perform and is not the butt of a joke -- that's a political statement." ~ Heather MacAllister (Founder of Fat Bottom Revue)
The Book
The BasicsPages: 196 pages
Publisher: Five Tie Publishing
Photos: 50 Black and White
These are not glamor shots. You won't find any body makeup here. The pictures are real and raw, but definitely not distasteful. The black and white images have strong shadows that highlight curves, lumps, bumps, stretch marks, and facial features but the most potent aspect of the majority of the images, after you get past the nudity, is the eyes. Regardless of their body you can't help but go back to the eyes.
Natalie Angier, author of Woman: An Intimate Geography, mentions this in the Forward and it is so true. According to Angier most nude studies have the model looking away while Nimoy's models take the camera, photographer and viewer head on. She likens the model's shapes to the Venus of Willendorf figurines.
This collection is sure to encourage further discussion on the concepts of beauty, cultural stereotypes, health, and more.
Add The Full Body Project to your Library
The Full Body Project: Photographs by Leonard Nimoy
Amazon Price: $29.70 (as of 11/07/2009)
Artistic Inspiration
Similar but Unique...
I provide the images here not as a means of comparing which is better but as a way of experiencing the image from both perspectives.
The Cover
Clustered...
Herb Ritts' 1989 photograph of a group of supermodels (Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Stephanie Seymour and Tatjana Patitz) huddled together on the floor was the inspiration for the image appearing on the cover of The Full Body Project.
Helmut Newton's (Dressed) & (Naked)
Now you see it. Now you don't...
A German-Australian fashion photographer noted for his nude studies of women. He has a number of diptych photographs which are photos that compare a dressed figure and a nude figure in the same pose.This particular inspiration as you can see depicts four posed women. I like how Nimoy's models are wearing their striking Burlesque costumes.
Henri Matisse's La Dance
Join the circle...
Matisse was a French artist who worked in a number of mediums. In his paintings he liked to use bold colors. When I look at his painting La Dance as well as Nimoy's lively interpretation I pick up a pagan quality from it and can almost imagine a stoked fire in the center.
Marcel Duchamp's Nude Descending a Staircase
A French artist whose work was influenced by the Second World War. Not all his work is as abstract as this painting. This was one of his most controversial pieces in 1912. Personally, I like the life and curves in Nimoy's interpretation.
Raphael's The Three Graces
Italian painter and architect, Raffaello Santi, is considered one of the "great masters" of the High Renaissance. The graces come from Greek mythology and are suppose to represent the three daughters of Zeus: Aglaea, Euphrosyne and Thalia and their attributes of charm, beauty and joy.
Add The Full Body Project to your Library
The Full Body Project: Photographs by Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy's nude study of the plus size form.
Amazon Price: $29.70 (as of 11/07/2009)
Interviews with Leonard Nimoy
Vote for the best...
Jewish Light Online
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Salon Interview
1 point
Cultural Events in LA
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On page four a group of women stand, two with their backs to a wall and two with their backs to the camera looking over their shoulders at the photographer (and viewers). I call this one "private club" because it looks as if we've interrupted a private moment.On page fifty-six, six women dance around in a circle hand in hand. Their round curves are an interesting contrast to the square tiles on the floor which to me represents the culture that tries to contain them.
On page sixty-two and sixty-three, the diptych of four women dressed in their performance costumes and then in the same pose naked.
On page ninety is an alternative to the formal staircase shot that appears earlier in the book. The women have left all seriousness behind to strike a pose.
And my absolute favorite is the closing shot on page ninety-two where a group of six women stand close togheter laughing their butts off.
Statement Or Art?
Nimoy has conveyed a sense of acceptance and respect through his images that extends both ways; from in front and from behind the camera. He has taken the pictures in this book with the attitude that the female body is an art form in all its shapes and sizes and he has used compassion and realism to keep his female subjects' dignity intact.One has to ask though, is he trying to make a statement with this collection or is it for the pure enjoyment of the art. You be the judge.
The Full Body Project is available from Amazon.com.
The Full Body Project is available from Amazon.ca.
Art and Fetish
In a few of the articles/interviews I've read the concept of fat as a fetish has come up.
"This is also a book about sisterhood and women finding strength and pleasure in each other's company." ~ Anne Wilkes Tucker
Large and Lovely, BellaOnline
Because you're more than fat...
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What do you think of The Big Body Project
Leave your comments about this photo collection but be warned if you are rude, crude or off topic I will delete your comments.
CDT wrote...
As a "larger than average" lady myself, it's good to see a celebration of real women, rather than the surgically enhanced plastic stick insects that the media would have us believe is a physical ideal.
Kudos to the very talented Leonard Nimoy :)
Posted July 09, 2009
mulberry wrote...
First I had no idea Leonard Nimoy was an artist of any kind. Second, I am quite impressed with this project. Thanks for sharing it with everyone!
Posted April 26, 2008
daoine wrote...
I love the inspiration he's drawn from famous images and paintings - the Nudes Descending the Staircase is fabulous! And the La Dance, too. Well thought out.
Posted December 19, 2007
Other Plus Size Photographers
Here is a listing of photographers who have photographed plus size professionally.
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Women En Large: Images of Fat Nudes
by Laurie Toby Edison and Debbie Notkin
Women En Large: Images of Fat Nudes
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 11/07/2009)
Five Favorite Things
A Plus Size Shopping Blog
Every week I'll share five favorite things. It could be dresses, tops, pants, bags, shoes and jewelry. I may even throw in the occasional website or book. Five new posts every week!
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by BigGirlBlue
I've been the editor for the Large and Lovely site at BellaOnline for the last five years.
I love talented curv... (more)
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