The Full Body Project: Photographs by Leonard Nimoy Hardcover – December 6, 2007

It's important not to get sidetracked by an artist's fame in one area when confronted with their work in another. Leonard Nimoy is so well known for his portrayal of "Spock" on "Star Trek," that it may come as a surprise to learn that he was also an accomplished  photographer  and  poet . One inevitable - and unanswerable - question is whether this book would have been published if someone else had taken these photographs.I would like to think that it would have been. On a technical level, Nimoy proves himself in full command of the mechanics of lighting and composition. As far as subject matter, fat nudes were already done in 1994 in  Women En Large . Comparing the two, Nimoy favors action shots, where he has the women dancing around various objects, on stairs, in can-can lines, or otherwise in motion. He also prefers showing them in groups - there's only one shot of a woman by herself, aside from several almost abstract shots against black backgrounds that emphasize the models' shapes.Anyone who saw  Eyes Wide Shut  may recall the "orgy" scene, where scores of identical naked women wandered through the room (it was a very tame orgy, with no sex or even touching, just looking). The standard, ubiquitous female "model" is almost a clone. Nimoy's work communicates the variety of form that fat women possess, while showcasing their beauty for those inclined to view them in that way. "Women en Large" was fairly obscure; one would have hoped that Nimoy's fame might have resulted in a larger audience for this work, especially since fat women have come to be more accepted over the past two decades. This may happen postumously - the price of "The Full Body Project" has already quintupled in the time from when I ordered it to when I received my copy.The only reason I gave this four stars instead of five, is that the collection has a "message." It happens to be a message I agree with - that fat women can be beautiful and should not be marginalized - but the presence of any message at all is a distraction. Nimoy wants the viewer to come to a particular conclusion. Great art is more open-ended; when the viewer meets the artist partway, they can come to their own conclusions, and if these happen to coincide with the artists', then true communication has taken place. One example of this is Richard Avedon's masterpiece  In the American West , which confronts us not with an "issue" (worthy as it may be) but with the beauty and complexity of life itself.

Okay, take two of a review of this book. My first was too much of a PSA. This photographic journey by Nimoy is an alternate view of beauty. He states that the average American woman is 25 pounds heavier than the models they aspire to emulate. With these women he expands that premise by a magnitude and poses them in retakes of famous paintings and other photographs all in an attempt to show beauty has no boundaries. The women are open and direct about their bodies, free of the usual censure placed upon large people by society, and show that every person has a story to tell about their own life. The backgrounds that Nimoy chooses is just as interesting. The mirror mountain especially intrigued me with its fractured images of the women creating thumbnail captures of just one part of their bodies as they danced around it. Although I do not espouse their personal expression of beauty, I can admire their courage, boldness and unashamed demeanor. I can imagine they would be interesting people to know. And so is Nimoy, one of our cultural icons who's journeys into different areas of art always prove worthwhile.

This is a celebration of beauty. If it bothers you, take a look at your presumptions and prejudices. I am tired of seeing skinny, fake, bulb-boobed addicts constantly paraded on my television screen as something desirable. Women who throw up after eating, exercise to the point of exhaustion, or surrender to drugs in order to stay rail-thin are not interesting and not my ideal of beauty. There is certainly nothing healthy about that kind of life. Unfortunately our psyches are shaped by the daily images we are being fed by industries who rake in millions due to our guilibility: those who push diets, drugs, nip-and-tuck surgeries, etc. Follow the money. Allowing people to look natural, whatever that may be, does not fill the beauty industry coffers. If you think we're being sold this Wallstreet/Hollywood image of beauty for our own health and welfare, think again. Thank you, Leonard, for giving us powerful images of beautiful women.

I'm sad to report that I "felt" nothing from this book. I am in no way a prude...nudity doesnt shock or offend me at all , so I was looking forward to having a real 'artful', heartfelt experience in reading this book, and studying the photos. Nimoy's sensibilities have always appealed to me. HOWEVER...by the time I turned the last page, all I came away with was; " Okay. That was a big coffee table book full of glossy black and white photos of large ( mainly tattooed) women". It didn't strike me as profound. Maybe my expectations are too high in general..I don't know, but in the past I HAVE seen photos, sculptures, and drawings of full figured nudes that took my breath away. This one didn't. Sorry Leonard!

I bought this book for two reasons. One is I knew one of the models illustrated in it. The second is I am kind of a Nimoy fan. The photos are blunt and rather in your face. I refer to it just for inspiration. Being a retired professional photographer I enjoy creating images similar to the one in the book. I have even had a couple of women agree to pose for me after having seen this book.It is however strictly a picture book. There is very little writing. I wish there would have been a few hints and tips on the models and the photography itself. Rubens would have loved this book. Kudos to both models and photographer.

Everyone should come across this at some time in there lives. It is of a time, and also timeless.

This is a book I can truly say I am delighted I own. It is full of beautiful women who are having an incredible amount of fun. A contrast between the photo on the cover of the book and the "supermodel" photo that inspired it is like comparing gemstones with thin plastic imitations. Bravo for Leonard Nimoy and for all the gorgeous women who fill the pages of his book.