Book excerpt: "Artistic nude" is a subgenre of nude photography. In artistic nude images, the human body itself is the subject of the art. In these photographs, the subject typically does not make eye contact with the viewer and there is typically no emotion shown in the subject's face or through the pose. Peter Bilous teaches you how to choose the right equipment for the job, determine the suitability of a model with a particular body type (athletic, curvy, or thin) for the look you have in mind, and how to light, pose, and compose the image elements for maximum impact. You'll survey work from the pioneers and contemporary masters in the subgenre and find inspiration for finessing your style or branching out into whole new realms of expression. You'll also learn special approaches(long exposures, silhouettes, creative lighting, etc.) that will help you create standout work that satisfies your creative vision.