Wellingtonians to strip for art

PHIL REID/The Dominion Post

TESTING THE WATER: Model Christie Wright, 22, gets the feel of the Breaker Bay rocks before tomorrow's photo shoot.

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Wellingtonians are invited to take part in a mass nude photo session at Breaker Bay tomorrow.

Palmerston North photographer Binh Trinh says he already has up to 100 people happy to be snapped in the buff against the rugged rocky cliffs near the harbour entrance, but more bodies are welcome.

Rubberneckers are not, though, so if you do turn up at 8am you are expected to take off your kit, he said.

"It is quite a brave thing to do but I want to create fine art nudes and not cheap, rude photography that looks like porn."

The Vietnamese-born photographer takes his inspiration from American artist Spencer Tunick, who is known for his photos of nudes in artistic poses at sites around the world.

"I want to see if I can do what Spencer Tunick does, but on a much smaller scale of course. That is what we are doing in Breaker Bay – Wellington's unofficial nudist beach."

If tomorrow's shoot goes well, Mr Trinh has grander plans. "I want to go up high onto a building and look straight down on the city.

"I can imagine having naked bodies scattered all over Wellington streets. My mind just runs wild thinking about that."

Police spokeswoman Elizabeth Young endorsed the event. "As long as these people are discreet and aren't causing any offence then we have absolutely no problems."

Christie Wright, 22, from Wellington, has posed nude before but is looking forward to her first mass shoot. "Everything I do I make sure is tasteful and this will be no different. It will be really good."

MetService says there will be cloudy skies and a temperature of 17C – but a 25kmh northerly will make it feel more like 15C.

Wellington city councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer said that, although there was some concern the event could turn into a circus, it fitted nicely with the ambience of the international arts festival.

For those wanting to pose nude tomorrow, go to Facebook page TZ Fine Art Nude Photography.

- © Fairfax NZ News