It's ALIVE!

Finally, the web site for the project is up and running. It's very simple, but clean and elegant hopefully. The site has some embedded fonts, so some viewers may not see the logo font properly. If the title on the main page (second) doesn't look like the logo on the entry page, then the font didn't load for you. If you happen to figure out what setting on your browser is stopping it from working, please pass it on.

Let me know what you think.

www.abundant-beauty.com

Getting There

I remember in college a math professor explaining an unusual aspect of number lines and infinity with a certain paradox. The paradox had to do with trying to cover the distance across the room by continuously traveling half way to the other side. Theoretically, you can cut the distance in half forever without ever reaching your destination. That's kind of the way I was feeling with the web site. I started the design over again and again, never quite satisfied with it. I finally realized I was going to have to get practical about it if I was ever going to publish it. So I caved in and decided to do it the easy way. I started up Frontpage and got to work. The only design aspect I kept from the prior work was a background I created. So it's finally done and I'm just working out the bugs and finishing paperwork. Within a couple of weeks it should be up. Thanks for your patience.

Bigger Love

Anyone who can make a polyamory relationship work are special people in my book. I had the privilege of photographing three very special people recently. A threesome that clearly adores and respects each other. Plus they are fun just to be around. I'm still processing most of the shots, but I wanted to go ahead and post a few here. If we're lucky, maybe the three will post a little about themselves and their very special relationships.

More Than Friends
Triple Passion
Comfort
Just A Pinch

Progress To Date

So far we've done five sessions, with four different women and two men. We've been processing the shots with a couple of different versions of software. It's been tedious but rewarding work. Everyone has been very cooperative and a pleasure to work with. All six subjects were willing to do nude shots as well, though two can't show their faces. It's very encouraging to find people that are willing to challenge the popular media's concepts of beauty. I'm very impressed with their bravery and their style. These are all beautiful people and deserve appreciation.

We are using Photoshop and GoLive to work on the pictures and the website. The trial versions ran out, but we were finally able to purchase permanent licenses. We still have a big learning curve, but we expect to finally start making progress on the web site. We're posting a few previews here to show the project is for real. All images are fully copyrighted right now. Please do not copy or use in any way at this time.

A preview of the work we've done so far:
Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4
Image 5 Image 6 Image 7 Image 8

Join us! Leave a comment or drop a line to the email address at the bottom of the page.

Unveil the Fraud

I came across this link demonstrating the amount of retouching that goes on with mass media images of beauty. Wrong, just wrong. Retouch Demo

The Project Begins

This is a temporary website for the Project; for reference while the real site is being created.

The Abundant Beauty Project is an effort to recognize that people do not have to be slim, or tall, or have perfect features to be beautiful or make an artistic statement. We are photographers looking to create something unique. Our goals for the project are:
- Explore the art of the ample human form, male and female
- Explore the boundaries of digital photography techniques
- Explore the use of the web for gathering and displaying art
- Explore the concept of collaborative art

We Need Models
Please contact us if you would like to be a subject. Couples are especially encouraged to participate. No experience is required or even preferred. If you've never thought that you could be photographed in an appealing and tasteful manner, please consider this project. We believe there is beauty and art being ignored because of today's unnatural ideal for body types . This is an opportunity to make a statement and to make art.

We Need Art Images or Web Gallery Links
Contact us if you have photographs of your own to display or a website to link. Initially, we will be operating under Creative Commons licensing for our work. However, we respect the ownership of creative content, and will honor your constraints. We encourage any images or links to existing web galleries with the same spirit or intent as the Project. We are not just looking for photographs of people. Sculpture, mixed media, video, poetry, or anything that celebrates or comments on the Abundant Beauty theme.

We Need Funding or Equipment Donations
We are not doing this project to make money, but it would be nice to cover some of the expenses. Expected expenses include domain registration, web-site hosting, studio rental, and equipment. We would certainly welcome any donations of surplus studio equipment. We would also like to be able to compensate models someday.

Leave a comment on one of the posts or contact us at this email address:
beauty.abundant(at)gmail.com