Naked in Paradise – ESPACE MVG

« joueuse de badminton », Thielle (tirage argentique au format 288 x 122 cm)

The first hour without clothes was difficult but I soon began to feel confident. The site was surrounded by a high wall – taking photographs was forbidden – and it was only after much talking that I was given permission to go ahead.

“I first heard of the Lichtfreunde (Friends of Light), a naturist camp by the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, through my officer in command at the compulsory military service. He was the camp’s president. I was intrigued and decided to check it out. The camp is protected by a wall and taking pictures was prohibited. I spent a week there and had to lay myself bare, artistically by showing and explaining my previous work, and literally. It took several meetings to gain the permission to shoot. The camp divided itself between the opponents and the ones who agreed but whom I then had to remind again and again that the pictures were going to be seen by everyone; many of them could not take the risk of others, family members, neighbours and work colleagues, to learn where they spent summer. I went back to the camp for several years, winning the people’s confidence. The pictures were publised in the press and were made into a book, Naked in Paradise, after eight years.”