Photography and Text by Tony Ward, Copyright 2022
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Tony Ward: The Early Nudes
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I met Wendy through a client of mine that worked in the advertising business in Philadelphia during the early part of the 1990’s. In 1993, while having lunch after a shoot, we discussed the new direction my work was taking in that I was interested in creating a body of work that addressed the issue of obscenity and the nude in photography. I was intellectually curious in exploring the rules of censorship of provocative imagery being produced in America. I studied various large circulation magazines including: Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler, Leg Show and even less provocative magazines like Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and the famed Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue for inspiration. I also researched art history and specifically photographic history as a starting point for my personal exploration of the nude.
I’m known for an interest in selecting unusual places besides the studio to shoot, so a friend of mine who had recently moved her offices to a granite facade, 54 story office building now called the BNY Mellon Center, cautiously suggested that perhaps I could find a discreet place to photograph in the public concourse areas of the building. The granite walled architectural setting that I scouted would serve as a backdrop for the nude images.
Wendy had the perfect body for my initial studies. She arrived at my studio a little nervous on the morning of the shoot. I comforted her by letting her know I had already scouted out the location and that we would move very quickly in and out of the center so as not to attract any of the guards. I chose a staircase that led to the parking garage where I had assistants positioned to let us know if anyone was around while we photographed. Our plan was to arrive with Wendy wearing discreet dark sunglasses and a fashionable raincoat to give the guards an impression that she worked in the building. Underneath the coat of course there was nothing more than her birthday suit. Once I got her in position her anxiety kicked in and she fainted within moments of arriving on set. Yes that’s right she fainted right on the spot! I quickly rushed over to her and told her to keep her head down and take deep breaths. We gave her some water and juice and fortunately she recovered quickly enough to complete the series. This was a jarring way to begin the exploration of the nude in photography, but I have remained up for the challenges that this line of work has assured over the past three decades.
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To access additional articles by Tony Ward, link here: https://tonywarderotica.com/the-maid-and-the-maiden/