Big Ed's PlaceCraig Morey and Morey Studios
I first discovered Craig Morey’s work in the early 90′s, when some of his black and white photos were published in Penthouse Letters. I bought his book, Studio Nudes, which I found to be gorgeous. Shortly thereafter, I bought a print of one of his photos to hang on my bedroom wall. A year later, I traveled to San Francisco, met with Craig, and purchased both a second print for my wall and several smaller ones for my own budding private collection. Those photos are below.
Well, now Craig is online, with his own site, MoreyStudio.com. His site’s a bit of a surprise and a revelation to me.
For starters, most of Craig’s current work is in color. This makes sense, given the current market for online nudes. However, while still beautiful, I don’t find his color photos nearly as striking as his black and whites. The color seems to downplay the striking expressions and poses he’s able to achieve. I also think he gets more out of amateur models (which are many of the b/w models) than some of the pros that all the European photographers use.
I’m also amused at how Craig is not shy about his other offerings–private commissions, workshops, and other items not normally available from one of the top photographers around. Now Craig has always offered these, back to the early ’90′s, so I can’t comment on his motives. I do know that I regret that I never had a girlfriend willing to pose for him, because that would have been an incredibly fun experience.
So… what can you find on his site? Plenty of free galleries, with a broader range of styles than many other photography sites. But at the same time, fewer photos to go through, because it’s a one man enterprise. What you won’t find is some of the more explicit couples shots that Craig has done, which is too bad. Nonethless, it’s worth checking out. I give it four out of five stars.
To see more of Craig Morey’s work, go to MoreyStudio.com.
You bought a print for your bedroom? What does your wife think? Why not spend a little more and buy a Weston or Bullock nude? Real artists are more skillful with light, don’t use models with tan lines, and aren’t so sexual. Porno for your wall? Sure nudes can be considered “art” but genrally as “figure studies.” This guy is a pornographer. That’s okay, but for your wall? Figure studies don’t generally include the model’s face, and therefore her intruding personality. Just buy a video.
Hi Jim,
I was single at the time I bought the prints. When my wife moved in, they came down.
I think the line between “art” and “pornography” is subjective. I find most ‘figure studies,’ including many of Weston’s, to be dull and drab and artistic only by reputation. In contrast, work that has a spark of energy or, dare I say, sexuality, can convey a lot more and is a lot more artistic to me.
I disagree about including the model’s face affecting the nature of art. Mapplethorpe is considered an ‘artist’ and his photos regularly showed the faces of his models, as do many of Helmut Newton’s. Heck, while not nudes, Annie Liebovitz made a career of her models’ faces. Or, if you want a very interesting grey area, check out Dahmane’s work or Jock Sturges.
But one of the things that I think makes “art” so great is that, like “pornography” it’s only good definition is personal. “I know it when I see it,” to quote the Supreme Court justice. In this case, we see it differently.
Thanks for commenting.