Friday, October 12, 2012

This is still harder than it looks

I know, doing a nude shoot should be easier the second time around, right? Well, it's not the shoot that's the problem. In fact, Travis McKeithan was easy and a pleasure to work with. The trouble is posting those photos online to be judged, critiqued, and yes, trolled. It takes a huge amount of courage to pose nude and and even larger amount of courage to let people see those photos. Although I had these photos up on flickr for several days before posting them here, I still find myself nervous.

To look directly at your un airbrushed naked body through someone else's eyes is both fascinating and terrifying. More so, it led me to the conclusion that there's simply not enough fat people art. And I don't mean size 12 fat, I mean rolls and cellulite fat. I mean fat like me and fatter than me  and I mean so far beyond the thin beauty ideal that you can't even pretend it's socially acceptable. I'm not curvy, I'm not plump, I'm mot a pinup model with an hourglass figure and a tiny waist. I'm fat and I want to see more fat people. So here we go, a deep breath, and some beautiful (makeup free, all natural) photographs from Travis.









16 comments:

  1. Some of us maintain a healthy lifestyle... and are still fat. Some of us exercise like there's no tomorrow... and are still fat. Some of us enjoy eating properly-sized meals full of healthful foods... and are still fat. Some of us are sick and tired of being told that our natural bodies are inherently wrong, and have realized that we can't hate ourselves and be healthy at the same time. The human brain just isn't wired that way.

    Thank you, Heather, for being one of the brave ones. Too many of us out here need to see that there are other bodies out there just like ours. And they are beautiful.

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    1. thank you for your support :) and sorry about the troll. like you said, some of us are perfectly healthy and still fat, but even some of us are unhealthy and fat, so what? our bodies, our choice- it doesn't give someone the right to demonize those bodies.

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    2. I agree with everything SweetSassyfats says. The world just doesn't understand that their are many medical reasons as to why some people can't lose weight. In the past few years I have gained an alarming amount of weight, which has put a lot of pressure on my lower back (degenerative disk disease) and hips (osteoarthritis) and it has caused a shift in my body because of the pain. I over compensate by using one side more to avoid it. I now I have one shoulder that since March has dropped 3 inch. It has caused one side of my body to look bigger than the other because of this mess. Despite heating everything the dietitian tells me to and doing the exercises my chiropractor has cleared me to do, I can't lose weight. About a month ago we found out why. PCOS. So at 37 years old, because of all of that, I won't be having children of my own. Now I have to lose the weight to get myself straightened back out and reduce the pain. It is very hard to come to terms with my fat self. I am trying to tell myself that I am STILL the same person. When I find blogs like Heather's it makes me see that we are ALL beautiful and it helps me see that despite my medical issues, my fat self is just as worthy of all things in this world as my not-so-fat self. So thank you Heather for being so brave and showing the world size-acceptance. You are an amazing woman.

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    3. chrystal- firstly i'm so sorry for your issues. You may very well continue to find losing weight impossible because of your medical condition. In that case you should focus on strength training... making the muscles in your back and around your knees stronger and better able to hold your new weight. Also, I really appreciate your support :) you're right.. your fat self is just as worthy as your not-fat self.. YOU are worthy and beautiful and wonderful.

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  2. "In objective terms you have an "energy/fuel surplus"."
    Wow, do you think this dude actually believes you've never heard his "objective" explanations before? Is it possible he actually believes in his heart that he is being constructive and progressive to tell someone who weighs more than the mainstream deems acceptable to eat less exercise more and calling her "hideous?"
    Ah, trolls. What hilarious idiocy.

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    1. haha, yes, they think they're being original! I didn't even read the entire comment. I smelled troll and deleted it. this isn't my first time dealing with trolls and in my space I get to decide who posts here ;) thank you for your support.

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  3. Bless you, beautiful person, and to hell with the haters and trolls, concern and otherwise.

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  4. Amazing sweetie!!! Your such an inspiration and I will say that you've help me feel so much more comfortable about myself. Being a curvy big girl myself, I've found it hard after two kids to be just ok with myself and Thanks to you and your amazing blog I'm able to feel sexy about myself and love me for me!!!! Thank you for all your hard work in showing there is beauty in everyone!!! You rock girl!!! Lots of love your way!

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    1. thank you so much! just remember that you're amazing and beautiful and you absolutely deserve to feel sexy and love yourself.. rock on!

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  5. By all means, it was my pleasure to shoot with you, You have such a natural beauty that it was very easy to create these beautiful Photos. You are an amazing person that I am glad I have had the opportunity to meet, and work with. Also I am incredibly excited about working together again.

    You are such a beautiful person both inside and out, that you have become one of my favorite models to work with, and I can not wait till Monday, and our upcoming project.

    Thanks for being so damn awesome,

    Travis.

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    1. Thank you so much Travis! you are fabulous to work with and I'm so happy to have found a photographer willing to take on my wacky ideas :D I'm super excited to work with you again.

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  6. I love the courage you show to do this. My faves are 3rd last and last :)

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  7. You certainly have courage to do this, Well done to you and I wish you luck in your future endeavours.

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