George Arthur Lareau

Surreal Bodyscapes: Pinhole Camera Color Nude Photographs George Arthur Lareau

This album includes sixteen professional models with eight photographs each (128 photographs). The models are from Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. George Arthur Lareau produces these surreal bodyscapes with two pinhole cameras. Pinhole cameras have no lens, just a tiny pinhole. Pinholes were the first cameras, marking the beginning of photography. In the studio, the amount of light required to make an exposure is very high, requiring him to use a powerful flash unit. Pinholes are also challenging to use because he has to imagine his photos (no viewfinders) and blending images is somewhat unpredictable. Lareau bought his two pinhole cameras as toys, but then became fascinated with the results they give him. There is no lens so there is no color correction. Everything is in focus because of the great depth of field. This led him to choose pinholes for his bodyscape projects. Lareau developed his unusual style for bodyscapes some thirty years ago, using students from the University of Illinois as models. Finding his own vision for that series of bodyscape photographs was a four-year endeavor, and today he continues to probe new visions with his pinhole cameras.