XtremeCamera

Spring 2009
96 glorious pages
$11.95 USD and Canada
http://carrieleigh.com
At Newsstands beginning May 5th, 2009.
Subscriptions Available Worldwide

Introduction: This is the first of many reviews for the finest quarterly publication ever to hit the market in all the years of publishing. Carrie Leigh’s NUDE is a fine art publication that exceeds the highest standards imaginable. It has no equal. But, as the name implies, it contains dozens of fine art nude photographs and nudes in other artistic mediums. For that reason alone some of our readers may find our review offensive. If you continue to read this review you are consenting to expose yourself to fine art nudity.

Carrie Leigh’s NUDE dares to do the unimaginable in the publishing world; they are producing a publication printed on expensive stock that faithfully reproduces the original intent of the artist in exacting standards, which is exceedingly costly, while at the same time refusing to accept advertising dollars to help offset these enormous costs. Carrie Leigh’s NUDE stands on its own merits, its as simple as that.

It is for this reason, and much more, that XtremeCamera has thrown its complete and utter loyalty behind Carrie Leigh’s NUDE. The publishers of this magnificent publication are attempting to create a new kind of magazine. One that places art and quality above greed and profits, one that refuses to compromise, one that demands high standards from its contributors and itself, one that will, hopefully, last for a hundred years and more.

Our goal here at XtremeCamera is simple; if we can convince one person, each day, to seek out Carrie Leigh’s NUDE, to hold it in their hands, to see exactly what it means to seek photographic perfection, and to understand that Carrie Leigh’s NUDE represents the best in all art, then we have done our job. Whenever, and wherever, we have an opportunity to promote Carrie Leigh’s NUDE we will take it and run with it. Because sometimes, helping someone that is doing something so important, so magnificent, so majestic in their ambition, it is more important than our own selfish desires. We are every bit as proud of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE as anyone in the world can be, and we are no more than subscribers, readers, and fans. Just like you. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to make a difference.

Carrie Leigh’s NUDE – Issue #7 Spring 2009 – The XtremeCamera Review

Let’s Talk Pre Orders First

If you were one of the fortunate that pre-ordered the spring 2009 issue of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE you will be delighted to learn that the publishers have begun shipping the United States and Canadian pre-orders today, Monday, April 27, 2009. And, if you pre-ordered your copy from outside the US and Canada your issue was sent out a couple of days earlier, on Friday, April 24th.

In a few days the excitement of exploring a new issue will begin as many thousands of copies begin to show up in the mailboxes of the devoted fans, wherever they may live. Whether it’s a big city like New York or Paris, or small towns like Concord New Hampshire or the Town of Goderich in Canada (Canada’s prettiest town, seriously now), people that love fine art photography will eagerly wait for the postal service to drop off a thick envelope made of strong paper with an inner coating of bubbled plastic, which contains the spring edition that itself is wrapped in plastic shrink wrap. (While some may think this hand-packaged method of shipping the publication is overkill, all it takes it one look at the perfect condition it arrives in to understand immediately why they ship this way. It’s expensive and time consuming, but worth it.)

You see, Carrie Leigh’s NUDE is a quarterly publication, and sometimes the wait between issues can be a long one.

The Pre-Order Sell Out – Gone is Gone

For the first time the number of issues that are set aside for pre-ordering were sold out before the April 12th cut off date. The publishers have had to turn away pre-order sales and direct customers to one of the booksellers that will carry the issue in May, or to the subscription page on their website. That’s a big achievement for a publication that is just now releasing its 7th issue.

Subscribe Now! Two-Year Subscription For The Price Of One!

The biggest compliant about Carrie Leigh’s NUDE is that many people that wanted to buy a copy of a certain issue but couldn’t find one. For instance, the last issue, the winter issue, is completely sold out. You cannot find it anywhere.

Carrie Leigh’s NUDE has one of the highest “sell through” rates in the industry. That means that the booksellers that carry them return very few copies back to the publisher. The ones that are returned are then offered on the Carrie Leigh’s NUDE website where they are then sold so quickly that trying to find back issues is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. More often than not, when an issue is gone, it’s gone for good.

You can avoid missing out on another issue by subscribing, and right now Carrie Leigh’s NUDE is offering a ‘2 years for the price of 1’ Anniversary Celebration Offer. You can save money AND assure yourself a copy of the finest photography publication by pointing your browser to carrieleigh.com and subscribing right now. Since we are all feeling the pinch of the current recession the chance to subscribe at half the cover price is simply too good to pass up. I would also like to remind you that Mothers Day and Fathers Day are coming up and I can think of no better gift for any art lover or photographer than a gift of two years of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE.

Look To The Booksellers Here And Abroad!

For those of you that didn’t pre-order a copy or perhaps tried to pre-order after the issue had sold out, or if you haven’t gotten around to subscribing just yet you’ll have another chance to buy a copy beginning May 5th. This is the day when the spring issue begins to show up in the finer bookstores in the US, Canada, and a few select booksellers in Germany, Austria, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Brazil.

It might be a good idea to find the bookseller in your area that intends to sell the spring issue when it arrives and pre-buy it (if you can talk the manager into it) or at least give you a call when it shows up. It’s worth a shot, believe me.

Impeccable Standards

Carrie Leigh’s NUDE is a soft-cover, coffee-table style publication filled with the finest ‘fine art nude photography’ you’ll see published anywhere. There is ZERO advertising in Carrie Leigh’s NUDE. There is no attempt to commercialize this publication in any way. In fact, each and every issue is a product of the love that the publishers have for fine art and fine art nude photography. Carrie Leigh’s NUDE is every bit a work of art as the photographs contained within.

The publishers are beholden to no one. The goal was, and is, to create and sell a fine art nude photography publication that has no equal. I think its safe to say that they have easily achieved that goal. Carrie Leigh’s NUDE is the only publication of its kind. But the fact remains that without advertising dollars the only way this magnificent publication can continue to publish 4 times a year is through people like you and I, by telling our friends about it, and by happily subscribing or buying the issue through a bookseller. And from the looks of things, Carrie Leigh’s NUDE is growing faster than anyone’s expectations. Like I mention above in the Introduction; Carrie Leigh’s NUDE stands on its own merits, and by the astonishing amount of success it has seen in its short life you can bet that this publication will stand for a very long time.

Volume 2, Number 3 – Specifics

This spectacular issue features the fine art photography of Carrie Leigh, Darren Phillips, Gabriele Rigon, Dan West, Michael Siu, David Lebeck, Tom Lane, Chip Willis, Deborah Anderson, Gary Mitchell, Lloyd Rosen, and Guenter Knop. In addition, some incredible art by the famed “Franchesco”, the Chicago based comic book artist (Xstacy anyone?) , and the splendid return of Joel Adams.

The Photographs

As is to be expected of each issue, the selection of work chosen for this issue is truly outstanding. In fact, for the fine art photographer just starting out, or the fine art photographer just hitting his or her stride, or even the fine art photographer who began decades before the advent of the dSLR, there are photographs in this issue, and each previous issue, that will inspire them to reach deeper into their own passion for fine art photography. I know that for myself I feel invigorated by the spring issue, and my love for this field of photography grows deeper every day because of it.

The spring issue had me thinking about each of the photographers as much as I was thinking about the overall issue. I don’t think any serious photographer can come away from an issue of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE without a new found respect for the art of fine art nudes, and for the fine art nude photographer.

A Vehicle

Carrie Leigh’s NUDE is a fine vehicle for the best fine art photographers working today. I imagine that having your work chosen for inclusion must be a moment that will always be remembered as one of the best days of that photographer’s life. To be offered a vehicle of this quality, to be given the respect that goes along with being published in a magazine of such renown and class must be a tremendous life affirming moment.

The Photographer

The remarkable beauty, the exquisite lines, the physics of the playfulness between light and shadow, and the vital relationship between model and photographer as it reaches a synergy that results in the creation of the amazing photographs found in this issue is the very heart and soul of what it means to be a fine art nude photographer.

These are the typical qualities found in the photographers who have their work published in Carrie Leigh’s NUDE. These photographers can be famous or completely unknown, what matters is the work, not the name attached to the work.

But while certain qualities, or traits, that make up a great fine art nude photographer are typical of the photographers that appear in Carrie Leigh’s NUDE, the photographs themselves are far from typical.

Each and every photograph that graces the pages of the spring issue possess a style that belongs to the photographer that created it. Yet, through what I call the ‘genius of choice’ all of the photographs work toward forming a cohesive publication that becomes a memorable issue of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE.

Carrie Leigh, herself an extremely gifted fine art photographer, chooses each photograph that will appear in each issue of the magazine. Carrie Leigh’s understanding of what separates a good photograph from a great photograph is literally unmatched in today’s world of photo editors. The ‘genius of choice’ for this publication belongs to Carrie Leigh herself.

Perhaps it is because that in addition to choosing every photograph, Carrie Leigh creates some of the very best fine art nude photography I have ever seen.

Witness the new photographs of Sydney Brown shot by Carrie Leigh for the spring issue. While Carrie never uses artificial light, her ability to create such graceful and beautiful images displays a mastery of the art that is easily recognized by those that know what it takes to create such fantastic images. This talent gives her a decisive edge when it comes to picking the photographs that will appear in future editions of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE.

Talent and then some…

The fine art photographer that creates photographs that are worthy of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE are certainly photographers that are magnificently talented. But more than that are possess a commitment, a certain selfishness, and a devotion to the art form that most photographers simply cannot reach. Each issue of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE becomes a valued treasure because the photographs within are so special, so spectacular, and so inspiring. This spring issue is no different. There are photographs in this issue that will stay with me for the rest of my days.

The fine art photographer will create without regard for an audience, although an audience is always desirable on some level. What is at stake here is how to get the work of these wonderful photographers to an audience that is hungry for fine art.

Before Carrie Leigh’s NUDE it was impossible to bring to market a publication that would truly and faithfully reproduce fine art in the manner the original artist wished it to be seen. It is only after the audience has seen the magazine that the true appreciation for it can be realized.

It is one thing to appeal to the serious photographer, it is quite another to bring that same appeal to those that love art, but who have never had the desire to pick up a camera. The success of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE lies in its ability to appeal to everyone that enjoys fine art, not just those that enjoy the fine art nudes. Carrie Leigh’s NUDE is enjoyed by all art lovers the world over for a very good reason.

Inspiration

Speaking only for myself, the spring 2009 issue of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE will be viewed again and again, for years and years, and will reside alongside the past and future editions I will hold so dear. If It ever becomes difficult for me to find the beauty of this world, all I need to do is reach for any issue, and move from page to page and I will most assuredly be reminded that there remains an abundance of beauty in the world.

Because I am fortunate to strive to be one of the fine art nude photographers that walk this planet looking to commit to film the beautiful creatures I am surrounded by, each and every edition of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE serves to remind me to get off my duff and get back to work creating my own photographs. It reminds me of who I am, and why I do what I do, and it does it so wonderfully well. While I may never attain the same level of excellence of the photographers that adorn Carrie Leigh’s NUDE have achieved I am inspired to try harder. For that reason alone I will be a lifelong fan, subscriber, and a promoter.

Every fine art photographer will be reminded why they became photographers when they see an issue of Carrie Leigh’s NUDE, and everyone, photographer or not, will be moved in ways that only the best art can move us… to make us feel from the heart what it means to experience the exquisite. Some call that Nirvana. I call it another issue of <a href=“http://carrieleigh.com”>Carrie Leigh’s NUDE</a> .

John Manzione