Photographer wants nudes for flash shots

If rubberneckers bring traffic to a standstill on the Auckland Harbour Bridge when someone gets a flat tyre, imagine this.

What if 1000 naked people were standing on the bridge? That's the ultimate goal for nude photographer Binh Trinh, who'll be in Auckland on February 12, to capture 100 people in their birthday suits on a West Auckland beach.

Palmerston North-based Mr Trinh specialises in nude black-and-white photography and has won international awards for his revealing en-masse images.

His inspiration came from the work of Spencer Turnick, who blocked out Sydney Opera House to photograph 3000 naked Australians.

Mr Trinh's shoots tend to take place in more secluded areas, like forests and beaches, but he hopes as awareness of his photography grows and awards bolster his credibility, he'll be able to bring the nudes into more central areas.

Eventually, he hopes to create a series at famous landmarks across the country, and the Harbour Bridge is in his sights.

He's encountered some challenges recently, when the forces of nature took their toll on some uncovered bodies.

"We did a shoot at Breaker Bay [in Wellington] and some people got spiked on the rocks. And we did one in the old fever hospital on Mt Victoria. The floors weren't very clean and some people got pretty dirty. I'm conscious of laws about being nude in public, I don't want everyone naked and getting arrested. Wellington City Council have agreed in principle for me to do a shoot in the Civic Square."

He says recruiting people to take part has never been a problem and he has a few repeat participants who have driven from Auckland to Palmerston North to relive the experience.

"It's liberating. Initially some people are pretty nervous but usually people start making jokes and everyone ends up laughing. You'd be surprised how casual people are about it. Lots of them say they wish they'd done it earlier and say I should do more daring places."

While in Auckland he also hopes to photograph a naturist club. "I want to capture their lifestyle. So, photograph them on the tennis court, playing chess, petanque, drinking tea."

As well as the en-masse shoots, he takes nude portraits.

"I feel as a photographer it's a real privilege to have someone go from being really uncomfortable, to seeing their photos and gaining so much confidence, being proud of their body."

And though he says he's had an easier time at finding willing models in Australia compared to back home, he's photographed people of every size and shape.

"I photograph everyday people. People who say, 'I've always wanted to try this'. Old, young, large, thin, I've photographed really large men. I've photographed a grandmother. She was quite nervous but then she brought her husband in to help choose the photographs. That was beautiful."

Mr Trinh hopes his work will help change the ideas around nude photography.

"We exist in a pretty conservative society and being nude is considered a taboo thing. I'm Asian, so I was brought up in a very conservative environment. But through my work I've met people who are more open, more liberal, and it doesn't make them bad people."

A wedding photographer by day, he's yet to merge his two subjects, but lives in hope.

"I really want to. I'm trying to convince someone."

See Binh Trinh's work at: www.binhtrinh.com. Find out what time to be at the nude photo shoot on his Facebook page.