25 models enjoy naked foray on the beach

WARWICK SMITH/Manawatu Standard

FOR ART'S SAKE: Photographer Binh Trinh organises nude models for an artistic photo shoot at Himatangi Beach.

Relevant offers

Manawatu people have been a little shy so far about getting naked for photographic art.

Twenty-five nude models gathered in overcast conditions at Himatangi Beach yesterday for a photo shoot with Palmerston North photographer Binh Trinh, but about half were from outside the region.

One couple were from Hawke's Bay and about 10 people were from Wellington, he said.

Mr Trinh said Himatangi was an awesome landscape for nude photography.

The models preferred to have a little shelter from the sand dunes, however, rather than stand in the colder, wide open spaces.

Mr Trinh said the weather forecast had been for a high of 22 degrees Celsius, but it did not get that warm.

There was a sense of community among the models, a feeling of being a bit vulnerable, but free, he said.

"They didn't expect to have so much fun."

He aimed to "mould the body to the landscape".

In Wellington, about 80 people turned up at Breaker Bay to shed their clothes for the camera.

Manawatu people will have a second chance to involve themselves in Mr Trinh's project next Sunday at the Esplanade Cafe in Palmerston North. They are expected to gather about 7am, before customers start turning up at the cafe.

Mr Trinh runs Picture Perfect Photography and he plans to use the photos for international competitions.

"One day soon we'll get 1000 people. You've got to aim big," he said.

Mr Trinh called himself a hypocrite – he kept his clothes on during the photo shoot.

- © Fairfax NZ News