Posted on 5 Mar 2015

Delightful Photos Of British Naturists Doing Normal Stuff

British photographer Laura Pannack documents the private lives of 17–30-year-old naturists in an intimate photo series. Contains nudity, obviously.

by Lynzy Billing

BuzzFeed Staff

London-based photographer Laura Pannack focuses on social documentary and portraiture, covering themes of youth and adolescence. For these images, Pannack gained access to her subjects at several naturist retreats in the UK, and talked with the members to see how their interest in nudity united them.

"Nakedness is usually reserved for the private realm. We make sure the curtain is pulled before we undress. On the beach, we wriggle awkwardly behind towels to preserve our modesty and a dropped corner is cause for deep blushes.
"The most natural and ordinary of all uniting topics, nudity continues to play a huge role in art and photography. It is about more than just skin. Nakedness is a concept as much as it is a state of being, and one wreathed in paradox." – Laura Pannack

"We arrive in this world without a stitch on our backs, raw-skinned and unadorned. In infancy and childhood, nudity is still considered natural, a sign of purity, untainted by the unseemly connotations that begin to attach themselves as we get older." – Laura Pannack

"Finding subjects was a lot harder than first expected. Initially I went through British Naturism and met with members and attended camps they organised to naturist sites. However I found that not all members were under 30 and I didn’t want to impose on their trips. Members were often disinterested in participating so I researched through social media, people I met at camps, forums, and blogs.
"I gained access to a number of naturist sites around the UK and organised trips to bring together those that I had met – this was hard as all sites have a strong no photography policy. It was interesting to bring strangers to a camp and refreshing to see how their interest in nudity united them." – Laura Pannack

"I didn't aim to correct any sterotype, I simply wanted to explore the idea. I thought it was interesting that these young people were all naturists for such different reasons – they were all very individual. I aspire for the viewer to engage with my subjects and see their nudity as a secondary element amongst the everyday setting. I aim to capture them as individuals, not just naturists." – Laura Pannack

"It was interesting to discover that in fact naturists are not in fact exhibitionists, and gaining their trust was extremely difficult. For many the world of naturism is an escape from everyday life." – Laura Pannack

"I was drawn in by the great equalising aspect of naturism. It is an interesting question how far people would retain their respective rank if they were divested of their clothes. In the naturist environment classifications disappear and the playing field is levelled. By removing clothing I feel a barrier between people is gone and I’m more able to meet and to talk to others without the feeling that I or they have something to hide." – Anonymous YBN member

"For me, the most intriguing thing about being a naturist is the social interaction between two humans when there is no room for judgment. Each is as vulnerable as the other and there are no hints as to who that person is or what social status they hold for example. What happens when these cues are absent? Do people connect on a different or deeper level, and if so, how?" – Laura Pannack

"The image of Shaun in the pool on his back is very special to me. I wanted to depict how serene the atmosphere was and how peaceful the day felt. One reason I embark on projects is to understand my subjects and subject matter. I didn't understand why anyone would want to bear themselves naked in front of strangers in a cold climate; especially at an age of such vulnerability. When swimming naked there is a unique physical sensation and this gave me some insight into why some people enjoy activities naked." – Laura Pannack