New Zealand lures nude art photographers

The South Island landscape is setting the scene for an international art project based on photographing naked women.

A pair of international photographers will travel through breathtaking scenery including the Mount Aspiring National Park photographing a group of naked art models at the end of the month.

Driving the project is Queensland photographer Cam Attree.

“It’s a majestic landscape… Around every corner there’s something different and a little unique,” he said.

New Zealander Darby Breckderry has been part-time naked art modelling for two years while working in the medical field.

She said modelling empowers her and the upcoming trip with Mr Attree will be an important learning experience.

“I feel it is a privilege for me to be part of that creative journey.”

Naked photography is a challenging yet rewarding art form for models and photographers.

French photographer Jocelen Janon has been working in New Zealand for 15 years.

He said New Zealanders can become victims of the great scenery.

“It’s so beautiful, so spectacular… the landscape in New Zealand is a trap.”

Mr Janon does nude art projects to subvert cliché nude artwork.

“I love it because it’s challenging,” he said.

Mr Attree fell in love with nude photography through the same quest for new perspective.

“I found it challenging to try and photograph something that has essentially been made an art form ever since photography has been around.”

The rise of an international art community through social media is providing opportunity for a range of people interested in the same art forms to meet in places like New Zealand.

Mr Attree connected with Ms Breckderry through Instagram.

“[You] can travel and meet all types of people, it’s a real community,” said Mr Attree.

Spreading the word of New Zealand beauty, Mr Attree and Ms Breckderry will be joined by another Australian photographer, Mark Rhodes, and two international nude art models, Sylph Sia and Romi Muse.

Once the five-day road trip is complete on April 25 the team will work at a Fine Art Nude Workshop organised by Mr Attree from April 26 to 29.

The workshop is a gathering of enthusiasts and professional photographers at Kinloch Lodge, near Queenstown.

Mr Attree said that although nude photography in New Zealand is “fairly small” the “grand landscapes” are a great place to create something “a little different”.