"Her work reminds me of the access Diane Arbus had to her subject matter."
—Richard Prince. Naomi Harris, America Swings.
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RP: What about the nudist thing....When did you first start going to nudist beaches? Were you comfortable with being nude? What's it like and why do you prefer to be without clothes...?
NH: Nude beaches. I was living in Miami and heard about this place called Haulover Beach. That was in December 1999, so I was 26. I actually went to welcome the Millennium there at a nudie New Year's party. I would go by myself when I didn't have any work and sit alone off to the side. There would be big groups being crazy and having a blast and I was just too shy, partially because I was naked, but more so because I didn't know anyone. One day I rolled over from my belly to apply sunscreen on my back and noticed some pervert filming me with a video camera hidden under a towel between his legs. The camera was aimed right at my birth canal. I was mortified. I decided I best make some friends quick and joined this nice little group that was there every weekend. Dorie and her gang were true nudists in the sense that they were there for that love of being nude and not for anything sexual. They would have potlucks for all the holidays and welcomed me into their fold. I felt extremely comfortable with them. I witnessed things like people injecting insulin, flossing their teeth, all normal things one does everyday, but they looked so funny doing it nude that I had to start bringing my camera. Now since I too was naked most people didn't have a problem with me photographing them, but of course I always asked permission first, as I still do.
RP: What's the best part of being on a nudist beach?
NH: I hate shopping for bathing suits and get depressed while trying them on. I also hate tan lines. Go naked and voilà, the anxiety is gone. I guess my motivation for being nude is totally vain rather than sexual or naturalistic.
RP: Do you go to nudist camps?
NH: I have been to nudist camps, but more to research for photo shoots. I adore seeing people do normal everyday things in the nude, and how without clothing they have to find other ways of showing their style and personality, like having an American flag clit ring.
RP: I know a lot of families go to those camps.... But aren't there a lot of people at these camps in it for the sex?
NH: Unfortunately, the day of the family nudist camp in America has died. Many of these nudist resorts that were geared for families have changed their focus to survive. Last summer I was at a beach in Far Rockaway, Queens. Now the law in New York says that it's OK for a woman to be topless. A police officer walked by and I asked if it was OK; he gave me his seal of approval.Within 30 seconds of me taking my top off, this obnoxious woman began screaming at me: "Put your fucking top back on, there's fucking children here, they shouldn't have to see your tits.We aren't in Europe." I responded that her potty mouth was a far worse influence on children than seeing a pair of breasts, but then another woman said she didn't have a problem with someone being topless but that I had "saggy-assed tits,"which I can assure you I don't. I was mortified, but later that afternoon the bitch who cussed me out began dry humping her boyfriend in front of her kid after smoking cigarettes and drinking all day. So, it's OK to practically have sex on the beach, just do it with your clothes on?
RP: What's your reaction to seeing someone without clothes on? Is it a question of equality, the fact that no one has clothes on puts everybody on the same level? My own experience with public nudity is that it calms me down... Any thoughts on what it makes you feel?
NH: I love it. I love that people have the confidence and security to do what makes them feel good. Quite frankly, you'd think many nudists would be too embarrassed to take their clothes off in front of others, but the fact that they don't care and even prance around proudly makes me applaud them. I love to stare. I love to see the wide variety of body types. Being relatively young and still in fairly good shape puts me at an advantage. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable about my body, that I've gained weight, am out of shape, and then I'll go to a nude beach and feel like Miss America. It's good for the ego.
Page 1 2 3 4 5
Page 1 2 3 4 5
RP: What about the nudist thing....When did you first start going to nudist beaches? Were you comfortable with being nude? What's it like and why do you prefer to be without clothes...?
NH: Nude beaches. I was living in Miami and heard about this place called Haulover Beach. That was in December 1999, so I was 26. I actually went to welcome the Millennium there at a nudie New Year's party. I would go by myself when I didn't have any work and sit alone off to the side. There would be big groups being crazy and having a blast and I was just too shy, partially because I was naked, but more so because I didn't know anyone. One day I rolled over from my belly to apply sunscreen on my back and noticed some pervert filming me with a video camera hidden under a towel between his legs. The camera was aimed right at my birth canal. I was mortified. I decided I best make some friends quick and joined this nice little group that was there every weekend. Dorie and her gang were true nudists in the sense that they were there for that love of being nude and not for anything sexual. They would have potlucks for all the holidays and welcomed me into their fold. I felt extremely comfortable with them. I witnessed things like people injecting insulin, flossing their teeth, all normal things one does everyday, but they looked so funny doing it nude that I had to start bringing my camera. Now since I too was naked most people didn't have a problem with me photographing them, but of course I always asked permission first, as I still do.
RP: What's the best part of being on a nudist beach?
NH: I hate shopping for bathing suits and get depressed while trying them on. I also hate tan lines. Go naked and voilà, the anxiety is gone. I guess my motivation for being nude is totally vain rather than sexual or naturalistic.
RP: Do you go to nudist camps?
NH: I have been to nudist camps, but more to research for photo shoots. I adore seeing people do normal everyday things in the nude, and how without clothing they have to find other ways of showing their style and personality, like having an American flag clit ring.
RP: I know a lot of families go to those camps.... But aren't there a lot of people at these camps in it for the sex?
NH: Unfortunately, the day of the family nudist camp in America has died. Many of these nudist resorts that were geared for families have changed their focus to survive. Last summer I was at a beach in Far Rockaway, Queens. Now the law in New York says that it's OK for a woman to be topless. A police officer walked by and I asked if it was OK; he gave me his seal of approval.Within 30 seconds of me taking my top off, this obnoxious woman began screaming at me: "Put your fucking top back on, there's fucking children here, they shouldn't have to see your tits.We aren't in Europe." I responded that her potty mouth was a far worse influence on children than seeing a pair of breasts, but then another woman said she didn't have a problem with someone being topless but that I had "saggy-assed tits,"which I can assure you I don't. I was mortified, but later that afternoon the bitch who cussed me out began dry humping her boyfriend in front of her kid after smoking cigarettes and drinking all day. So, it's OK to practically have sex on the beach, just do it with your clothes on?
RP: What's your reaction to seeing someone without clothes on? Is it a question of equality, the fact that no one has clothes on puts everybody on the same level? My own experience with public nudity is that it calms me down... Any thoughts on what it makes you feel?
NH: I love it. I love that people have the confidence and security to do what makes them feel good. Quite frankly, you'd think many nudists would be too embarrassed to take their clothes off in front of others, but the fact that they don't care and even prance around proudly makes me applaud them. I love to stare. I love to see the wide variety of body types. Being relatively young and still in fairly good shape puts me at an advantage. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable about my body, that I've gained weight, am out of shape, and then I'll go to a nude beach and feel like Miss America. It's good for the ego.
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Jodi and Michael / Swingstock / Duxbury, MN/ July 2004. Photo: Naomi Harris
Drinking Franzia / Swingstock / Black River Falls, WI / July 2003. Photo: Naomi Harris
