Nude Photo Shoot Benefits Trees Over 100 people gathered at the University of California, Berkeley, on Saturday to pose nude among threatened oak trees. At least six people have been living in the trees since December to protest UC Berkeley's plan to cut down the trees to build a $125 million sports training facility, reports The Daily Californian. Bay Area photographer Jack Gescheidt, who creates portraits of nude subjects amid trees, expected the large turnout. Gescheidt's work is showcased in an ongoing series called The Tree Spirit Project. Participants remained nude for only a sort amount of time, as nearby police warned of arrest. Public nudity was banned on campus 15 years ago. However, the photo shoot ended without a problem, and construction has been halted because three separate groups--including the city of Berkeley--have sued the university to stop the project. Read more at Nude Photo Shoot. 
Nude Photographers Battle Stereotypes Despite the growing mainstream acceptance of nudity, nude photographers are still facing hurdles to gain acceptance of their work, reports the Herald News. While nude photography is nothing new, nude photography groups are forming across the country to allow interested people to meet, find nude models and organize nude photo shoots. One such group is the North Jersey Nude Photography MeetUp group. Citing the 2006 Naturist Education Foundation/Roper poll as evidence of the mainstreaming of nudism, 54 percent of Americans approve of clothing-optional areas being government designated while 24 percent think it is OK for people to be naked in their own backyard, even if they are visible to others. Yet amateur nude photographers still face stereotypes and issues of intent and merit of their art. The New Jersey MeetUp group has met in a local Barnes and Noble and a Best Western conference room, searching for models, discussing their art form and studying the history of nude photography. Read more at Nude Photographers. Black's Beach To Get New Stairway Popular Black's Beach in California is about to become more accessible to nude sunbathers. The state Coastal Commission has approved a permit for a steel stairway to be erected on a steep dirt pathway that leads to the beach. Severe erosion after a 2005 winter storm has made the path that leads to the beach more slippery, prompting park officials to close it for a time until partial repairs were made. But the most dangerous portion, the final 100 feet cut into part of a sandstone cliff, has remained off-limits to beachgoers for over two years. Yet each day, surfers and sunbathers ignore the warning signs and take their chances. The 19-foot steel staircase is designed to be movable and built like a ramp. If storm waves pound it loose, maintenance crews can simply reattach it to the bluff. The estimated $30,000 cost is being funded by private donors and is expected to be completed by July. Skinnydippers Challenge Bylaw A group of UK skinnydippers are preparing a legal challenge over being banned from using pool facilities, according to The Leader. The Surrey Skinnydippers were told they could no longer use the pool even though the group of about 150 swimmers had been using the pool monthly for about a year. According to the bylaws for the Newton Wave Pool, "No person shall enter or bathe in any water at any bathing beach or in any swimming pool without being clothed in proper bathing attire." Paul Andreassen, spokesperson for the Surrey Skinnydippers, said the law was originally created to prevent swimmers from wearing cutoffs in the pool. According to Andreasen, skinnydippers wouldn't be in violation of the law anyway because "If you're running an appropriate nudist bathing swim, what's the appropriate attire? Skin." Read more at Court Challenge.  |
