The Sun Drenched Nude By Gerhardt Thompson | Published by In Focus Publishing Intl., 2007
The Sun Drenched Nude is one of those rare publications that remind us why we love the subject matter at hand so much. It's been too long since such a beautiful and moving vision of the nude has come along. This is a mesmerizing body of work. Each of the seventy-five black & white photographs is a striking marriage of the human figure and the dramatic Australian landscape. The human component is an impersonal one - we never see the eyes or the gaze of the women - but we do bear witness to the elegance of their intertwinement with the environment. And so, in a sense, they stand above us, separate and angelic. Jack Gilbert - Editor Michelle7.com
Gerhardt - The Book By Gerhardt Thompson | Published by In Focus Publishing Intl., 2006
Gerhardt - The Book is 12 inches high by 17 inches wide and is bound in leather with a matching handmade leather box to store your book in. The photos are printed on 170 gsm (105# text) acid free satin coated stock. Quantities are limited to 200 editions with each edition numbered and signed by Gerhardt!Please contact In Focus Publishing directly to purchase this book.
Photokonkurs.com is an international photographic competition site open to the photographic community and includes all genres of photography with a specialty in Artistic Nude Photography. I am actively involved with this site as a photographic judge.
Press
February 2008 - Featured Photographer in Foto Plusthe premier photographers magazine in Portugal. The feature includes my photo on the front cover and an interview with Marcos Fernandes. Click on logo to visit the magazine.
February 2008 Issue 40- Featured Photographer. This magazine published in the UK in B&W is dedicated to sensual erotica for the modern age. This issue is their last printed version prior to going digital. Click on their logo to visit their site.
September 2007 - Interview with Univers d'Artistes a site dedicated to Aartwork and news about artistic nude photography. Please click on their logo to share the article.
August 2007 - Featured in Il Repubblica, Italy's largest newspaper. "Australian, Gerhardt Thompson ... He is considered to be one of the masters of the artistic nude ... ".
April 2007 Nudes in Nature - Featured article by Art of Love. Click on their log to share the article and explore the their extensive collections on the Art of Love.
January 2007 Interviewed by Incubus Choice, share interview and photos by clicking on their logo above. - Established since October 1999, the directory of erotic art sites Incubus’ Choice lists the top sites by artists working in photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, depicting an erotic vision of woman or man.
June 15, 2006 - Featured Photographer- An exclusive feature on Duclerck an erotic photography magazine. Click on their banner to read the feature, a new window will open.
"December 2005 - Aktfotografie - Körper und Landschaft", by Henning Onken - An exclusive article and gallery presentation in MeinBerlin.de. Please click on the logo to share the presentation, a new window will open.
April 2005 - The Gerhardt Interview, by Andrew Kaiser - An exclusive interview by The New Nude Magazine click on the logo to read the article. A new window will open.
The Sow's Ear Poetry Review. Spring 2005 my photo Neptune's Beauty and in Winter 2006 my photo The Gift of Sleep were featured in this distinctive venue which links poetry and kindred arts.
My photography is featured in their SPRING 2006, AUTUMN 2006 and WINTER 2007 Editions.
weAREtheIMAGEmakers. August 2006, Edition 05 - my photo In the Dreamtime is featured in this distinctive e publication that showcases creative Australian talent.
Reviews
"Gerhardt Thompson is one of those rare artists who is able to unify multiple elements into a single, cohesive vision that is often far more spectacular than the sum of its parts. He specializes in photographing the human figure, specifically the female nude, and his penchant for mixing the graceful qualities of his human subjects with the natural landscapes of the Australian bush and beach are absolutely spellbinding. His alchemy of sunlight and shadow, flesh, sand, mortar, and stone, and the rush of the waves, are all ingredients to a magnificent vision. Gerhardt admits to admiring many photographers, Edward Weston being one of them, whose work is crafted around a harmony of form where the human body, although indispensable in the overall scheme of things, is not necessarily the main focus of the picture but is instead only of its key ingredients. The same sense of design runs through his veins as well. And it is a lovely and refreshing perspective."
Jack Gilbert - Editor & Artist Representative, Michelle7
"Gerhardt is an Australian living in Sydney As a photographer he specializes in shooting the human figure and seeks to focus on the sensual aspects of his subjects rather than the erotic traits of the female form. Combining the beauty of the female form with the natural environment is his trade mark."
Rick Dilger owner of Bush N Beach Gallery
"I love the way Gerhardt can always find the right environments for his shots and the way he studies his models' poses. From a pure photographic point of view I find his B&W definitely outstanding in tonal range and clarity and flawless. His works are never common, his creativity in nude portraits seems to be limitless and probably this is his real secret."
Marco Brivio, Italy. Photographer, travel and photojournalism
"When you work with many artists and photographers often you find yourself immersed in sharing techniques or ideas as creative minds combine. Whenever the subject of nude or black and white photography comes up I can only refer my colleges to one place; Gerhardt Thompson. Never have I seen such art depicting the human body aligned with landscape done with such excellence. Mr. Thompson’s use of light and shadow in a natural environment is as if he placed the sun, moon, and stars in perfect alignment and harmony to create true art. There are many photographic rules that anyone can apply to take a technically perfect image. However, it is a rare gift when you find an artist such as Gerhardt that can use his technical expertise and combine it with his vision or imagination to successfully portray it through his lens. It is my honor to view Gerhardt’s work."
"For me, Gerhardt is one of the greatest nude photographers I know, if not THE greatest. His studio is on the street, the light he uses is the natural one as well as the scenery and the models are beautiful and always very well chosen. He can join in a superb way, an enormous sense of aesthetic with a very accurate technique with the exposure control. The way he plays with models, surrounding elements and light is unique and superb and his photos are works of Art. He can be named as the best "Nude Street Photographer", indeed. I just want to add that I am not an admirer of the traditional nude photography on "closed" studio with all those "not natural" lights and "not natural" sceneries. With Gerhardt photos I began to love the Nude photography."
"Velièastne èloveške oblike telesa so desetletja privlaèile umetnika, da so jih prouèevali. Uporabljali so najrazliènejše stile in vsak je hotel dodati nekaj svojega. Nenadoma je postalo jasno, da je vsa lepota odkrita. Le redki posamezniki kot Gerhardt Thompson so sposobni s svojimi naravnimi talenti in kreativnostjo dodati delèek k celoti umetnosti. Gerhardt prouèuje oblike èloveškega telesa v kombinaciji z naravno podobo pokrajine. Izbira skrivnostne zapušèene kotièke, kjer ustvarja ko je svetloba najbolj magièna. Izbira èrno bele tehnike fotografije kot pripomoèek izražanja še bolj velièastno prikazuje oblike èloveškega telesa. Hvala Gerhardt! Lepota v vsakem pomenu!
(A magnificent human form was for centuries with respect studied by artists. Different styles were used, all artist wanted to contributed something of their own. It suddenly appears that all study and beauty was done. Only few modern artists like Gerhardt Thompson are capable with their natural sense and insignificant creativity to contribute a peace to the art. Gerhardt is studying the beauty of the human form in combination with natural landscapes. He is choosing mysterious abandoned places in the moment when the light is most magic. Choice of traditional black and white photography as art instrument inspires more magnificent view on the human form. Gerhardt thanks! A beauty in every sense)!"
"Gerhardt's fine art nude photography reflects his passion for nature and the feminine form, melding the two in such a unique way that it makes me lose myself in his sensual images. I'm always impressed with his use of nature's textures, blending natural light, mother nature and the sensuality of a woman's shape, angles, and softness. He has a uniqueness and creativeness apart from any other photographer in the way he poses his female models and blends them with nature with a savvy consideration of textures, lines, shadows, shapes, tonal shades and the energy these elements possess together. Every one of his works of art tells a story and has energy and life that brings me back to see what new creative surprises he has masterfully composed. His photos always involve me as the viewer, wandering through his visions and imagining the story that lies behind each one. Gerhardt has truly broadened my appreciation for the art of nude photography."
"To describe Gerhardt Thompson's multi faceted art in a few lines is a daunting task indeed. Gerhardt's studies are not merely a celebration of beauty of the female nude form but also a sweeping examination of the connection between that flowing beauty and our graceful but savage natural environment. Mankind’s position in that tenuous, symbiotic relationship is portrayed as dominating but threatened. Gerhardt's compositions are artistically pleasing yet arranged in such a way that we see his models fragile, liquid form reflected and complemented in the natural lines of rock and sea but simultaneously that fragility is contrasted with the harshness in the environment which surrounds it. His masterful use of light to emphasize these similarities, contrasts and conflicts is always strikingly evident. In many examples we see an unexpected strength in the pose, indicating the strength required to maintain our achieved position despite the overpowering nature of our world. Whether a study in light and delicacy, or an examination of darker aspects of our existence the common motif of the human form as the earth mother's ultimate creation always explodes forth in his dynamic work."
" Gerhardt Thompson has drawn a well defined line in the sand between the artistic nude and erotic, lewd or simply naked photography of prurient interest. That line is as deep and wide as the Grand Canyon. His philosophy and approach is akin to that of the old masters but with his own unique vision and mastery of the subject and media. Gerhardt is recognized as standing alone in his ability to showcase the form and beauty of the female anatomy in harmony with and as an integral part of the scenes and settings that he uses. Even though his subtle use of light and shadow and the contrast of the subject with the environment is always so well defined and powerful ... his style melds and blends all of the elements into one unified statement. Mr. Thompson also has the unique ability to create, capture and present each image in a way that although the intent is clearly defined ... leaves the door ajar just enough that the viewer becomes involved in the total experience or process through their own interpretation. I humbly submit that my work is known through some portion of the international photographic community but I am only beginning a journey of exploration where Gerhardt has reached the destination. If the man has any faults, they are probably the same as his strengths. He keeps searching for the "PERFECT PICTURE" without knowing that he has shown us that perfection time after time."
"Gerhardt's talent exudes itself in his unique nude portraits. I have found this man's images to be of wonderful quality and tastefully done. His work is an inspiration to me as a photographer and I have learned to appreciate the art of nude photography through his eyes. His images portray design and creativity, telling a story each time. Your mind is allowed to perceive his intent easily. He is, no doubt, one of the most innovative photographers I have encountered."
"In my time as an amateur photographer I have seen many portfolio's with artistic nude photography. Many photographers think they make beautiful artistic nudity, most of the time they are not original. Gerhardt is always original in every single photo! His style is very recognizable. He is one of the few photographers who can make very dynamic photos without a studio and with the available light. I am a personal fan of his work. Gerhardt knows in every photo to 'melt' his models with the environment. The poses always show you the exact situation. Besides that, he is somebody who attaches value to exposure. From extremely dark shadows to heavy highlight areas, they always have to show every single detail. Most important of it, Gerhardt knows under these conditions to keep the right contrast, that is really good! Most of the time, the faces of his models are not completely visible, that makes it a bit mysterious. The photos leave questions behind. The most interesting part in my opinion is that he always knows to set up original compositions. The combination of poses and the choices of angles are part of that. All that together leaves me to say that a photo of Gerhardt is a story you have to read and finish before you can take your eyes of... 'all thumbs up!"
"Mr. Gerhardt Thompson is one of the finest photographers whose specialty is showing the beauty of the human body in context with the beauty of nature. He is a highly professional man with great technical skills and excellent taste. His photos are carefully designed and perfectly executed, carrying high artistic value. He is the master of creating poses, which shows off the human physique, always tastefully. In his images he combines nature and nude to the advantage of both, complimenting each other. These fine art photographs are worthy of the highest awards."
"There are three things that in my opinion define Gerhardt’s photos and make them special: The special light that makes the skin of the models glow, the way the models look like sculptures in the nature, and the tones he is using. Altogether this creates an atmosphere in his pictures that is special and is his trademark."
"I have been following Gerhardt’s work for some time. Every time I see a new photo from you him I am always taken by his ability to create that unique atmosphere in his photos and I am confident that he is one of the best Nude photographer on Photopoints. I think he is able to create a feeling and an atmosphere in a very stylish and clean way which falls completely to the design of our creator, so that the adaptation becomes total without making the photo too "soft, corny" or erotic. I would also like to give him top scores for quality and the work you do on the photos. You are also able to awake a new creation and new viewpoints in every photo I see. I never get tired of seeing your subjects. Your unique and sophisticated style is to my liking. I think more people should be able to enjoy it."
"I've been following Gerhardt work for a few years. His work is admirable and not just myself but a bunch of photographers I know consider him a master. I've been learning from him since the first time I saw his photography. His capacity of directing models and his ability of mixing human forms with nature is unique! I've never, ever, seen any work closer to his. The lighting he gets outdoors just a few can get even in the studio. He is an artist and his photography, pure art! He is a very polite and unique human being, I consider him a friend and a great one. I have to thank him."
"Gerhardt Thompson uses light, tone and form very precisely to obtain results that surprise and engage the viewer, no matter how many of his works you have seen. His methods, whatever they are, seem to engender a sense of teamwork with his models. More than just bodies in his vision, they seem truly engaged with him in the creative process. He obtains the maximum drama and tension from their poses, and he combines that with an extreme awareness of the environment of his shot, mixing the two together in symbiotic ways. The results keep the viewer thinking, up on their intellectual toes to derive the sense and meaning that the photographer gave the shot. He encapsulates his vision in a very high quality technique. Every shot has a full tonal range and a sense of being exposed perfectly in every part of the image. Gerhardt's work is fine art, from concept to finished image, and he has pleased and intrigued this viewer over and over again."
"I think your work is amazing. I find your trademark studies in black and white beautiful with fabulous tones. I think one of the things I enjoy so much about your work is the use of nature as your backdrop…your recent work of the beautiful sleek sea nymphs on the craggy rocks is especially beautiful. I find all of your work done in beautiful taste and with great love for what you do. ."