When a 101-year-old woman approached photographer Anastasia Pottinger asking to be photographed in the nude, Pottinger had a brilliant idea: do a series on the beauty of the?beautiful bodies of centenarians. The response she has received for her “Centenarians” series has been amazing. This is proof that when seen in the right way and with an open mind, the human body is beautiful at any age, even age 100.
From her website:
This body of work was born out of the opportunity I had to photograph a 101 year old woman who volunteered, on her own accord, to model nude for me. It was merely an exercise in documenting her form in a beautiful way. My only instructions from her were to make sure she was not identifiable in the images. She was willing to do anything I asked of her.
When I later reviewed the images on my computer, I knew I was looking at something very special. It was when I began exhibiting the work that the idea to continue the series was born. The response to the images has been remarkable. Viewers are visibly moved by what they are looking at. Whether it’s wondering, ?is this what I’m going to look like?? or remembering a loved one ? the response seems to be universally emotional on some level.
The first question I get from everyone seems to be, ?How did you get these models?? The first one came to me. The others have certainly been more difficult, although all of them have come to me through a known resource like a granddaughter or family friend.
Aside from the images themselves, the intersection of meeting my [100 year old] models and both of us taking that leap from chatting to making images of their bodies is where the excitement lies. It’s that moment and the mutual trust that comes from the experience that is evidenced in the intimacy of the images.
Anastasia Pottinger
h/t Viralnova
Tiffany Willis is the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?subscribe to her public updates on Facebook,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
