When most hear the words “Erotic Photography” photos of bare women with no morals taking advantage of themselves for money is what comes to mind. Erotic photography is very much more than this. At its heart, erotic photography is a way to capture the essence of the body, the external beauty, and subtleties that define sensuality and eroticism.
Erotic photography is defined as photographing the nude body in a manner which is artistic and creative. Whereas, we commonly think of porn material as the edgy, degrading, and often trashy images of women, with low moral standards behind it. Many photographers are spend many years refining the art of erotic photography. Some even have award winning erotic photography which features a nude subject. Even the erotic photography models undergo long sessions of training to master their poses and to create the subtle nuances that define their area of work.
Long before magazines like Playboy were ever printed erotic photography was popular. History is filled with examples of erotic art and nude portraits. Because of the controversy, in the 1900’s , those who were skilled in the art of erotic photography were chastised and therefore would take the photos anonymously. Even though sex sites reigns supreme on the internet, it’s still difficult to find true erotic photography, which stands apart from it’s distant relative, porn. With some extensive searching, using choice key phrases like “nude art” and “erotic women” you can find some very good examples of modern erotic photography. These are the people who should be praised for their artistic abilities and talents.
Erotic images have been present in virtually every society in this world. The Paleolithic carvings and cave paintings are an example of very old, but surviving erotic depictions. If you look at the ruins of Pompeii, you’ll see ancient Greek paintings that cover the walls. A country like Peru on the southern part of America had a community known as Moshe which centered on sculpturing explicit scenes into their pottery. Also, the Larco museum in Lima has many types of erotic ceramics and artwork.
The same has also been experienced in Eastern cultures. In Japan, the Shunga appeared from early in the thirteenth century up to late in the nineteenth century. All through, it continued to gain popularity until the invention of photography. In China, it was during the latter years of Ming dynasty that erotic art reached its climax. The Kama Sutra of India continues to enjoy popularity till today.