Inspired by documentary photography and those who deal with the human form, it’s no surprise that the intimate and raw legacy Nan Goldin left behind has been integral to Bristol-based photographer Naomi Wood’s practice: “She manages to pull so much emotion into the image in a way that can only really come from being so close to your subject. There is a self portrait she took after suffering abuse that always gets me where she appears so tough and vulnerable at the same time.” Originally hailing from the Midlands, Naomi studied Fine Art at Bath School of Art before discovering photography was the medium that allowed her to emotionally connect with the world around her.
By photographing as authentically as possible, with a lack of sensationalisation or hyper real effects, Naomi aims to capture the emotion and energy of her subjects, often made up of close friends with who communication is intuitive. This is especially important for her latest project Body of Women, a nudity series celebrating the female form that aims to depict the varying shapes of the female body in their entirety. The result is non-sexualised images that hope to serve as a positive reminder for others to realise that the power to gain or regain confidence and comfortability in their own skin really does lie within, a message of empowerment for all. On shooting her subjects, Naomi says “As women started to come to me to take part it developed that many of them were using the process of the shoot to try to reconnect with themselves. Each one had a different reason for feeling a sense of disconnect with their physical bodies, whether it be because of past traumas, sexual abuse or perhaps because their body had gone through a big change such as pregnancy or ageing. It's very interesting to me that photography can be a tool for healing in that way.”
