Peter Gowland glamour5

GOWLAND
PHOTOGRAPHY

COLOR NUDES

In 1938 Peter's first female nude study was shown in a camera store window. The proprietor was arrested and fined because of exposing pubic hair to the public. At first, discouraged, Peter soon realized the experience was a blessing in disguise. From then on he has approached his photography of the female figure differently. He now works with light, shadows and posing to create figure studies that appeal to advertisers and editors seeking artistic images.

example above is a photograph of a pear that, in reality, is a model's back, distorted with a 17mm lens on 35 mm film.

two lights, left and right, directed at background snake named Buddy 16x20 for sale

Our most simple lighting: two strobes on the back ground, with "spill" on the model,..... (Now it becomes complex,) You can't pour water on a paper background, so you need a terrazzo floor. Then you need a plastered , 2 foot radius, wall.......... It isn't over yet. The main prop is a boa constrictor. Next, you need a nude who wouldn't mind Buddy on her back. Lucky for us, Buddy belonged to Bettina,...... arriving in a paper bag...... Simple? Isn't it?

two lights from rear, one from behind camera	antique mirror : one front light camera left, one from back, camera right (30x40 print sold)
available light	available light

16x20 for sale	16x20 for sale
Peter plays with fire and ice.

for sale
A common theme running through the Gowland photographs is that of water. Surf, rain, bubbles and ice all help portray a third dimension. The presence of water is a tool which adds action to an otherwise static shot.

Tamara Killeen 16x20 for sale

Peter feels the advantages he has in photographing women are: He has an understanding director, his wife. He has access to top models, sometimes expensive. He can shoot year round because of the California climate. Many locations are not far from his studio. He's able to work with 35mm to 8x10. The larger formats he builds himself. He is knowledable about working with wood or metal and has a work-shop on the property which facilitates the construction of sets.

Assistants, Barry & George, can place this "rock" background at either end of the pool. The south for back-lighting and the west for side-light. Peter & his assistants made the "rocks" from white styrofoam and newspaper, sprayed with gray paint and backed by backed by two Ľ" 4x8' plywood sheets. A trough, lined with plastic, holds enough water for two exposures. Two hinges attach box to background.

Believe it or not, there could be 10 people involved with this "simple" picture; two models, two assistants, hair dresser. make up artist, food person, client, photographer (Peter) and director (Alice). Why use a camera stand? (we also made this) Two reasons: We might take a dozen shots and want all to be very sharp. Second, Peter likes to compose and focus with the camera, but prefers to look directly at the model, when the picture is being taken. It's better than looking at the very small face on the ground glass.

Tub made from circle of wood and lined with plastic. Two lights from each side, directed at background only. 4x5 Gowlandflex.

Sacramento California reservoir. Natural light with 35mm Pentax. 30x40 for sale

Two strobe lights from each side, directed at the model, none on black background. Exposure determined by the duration of the Larson Strobasol VX8000, approx 1/200th.

Gowland stream, mid-day,backlight. No reflector or strobe.

Gowland's back canyon. Sunlight from right and reflector from left. 35mm Pentax.

White, paper background hung in patio. Frond from Hawaiian tree fern held by assistant to create pattern. Sunlight.

running on Australian beach

Silver Mylar on Gowland studio floor with window light coming in from right. 16x20 for sale

Sacramento reservoir with available light only. Pentax 35mm.

Gowland's curved studio wall with water poured on floor to create reflection. Night shot. One strobe on background from each side. Model receives small spill from lights. 4x5 Gowlandflex. 16x20 for sale