While working as an actor, and stumbling upon his interest of photography and natural elements, photographer Hugh Arnold became a well sought after talent. After shooting editorials for Australian Vogue, Glamour and Tatler magazines, Arnold became one of the first commercial photographers to explore underwater. He learned how to scuba dive in Egypt, invested in the proper equipment, braved the elements in Australia, Fiji and Malta resulting in the Agua Nacida series. This recent work is a series of large scale underwater nudes, as well as a film and a 368 page photo book of the series.
The human form has long been the subject in the art world, but seeing the nude figure in motion underwater is a fairly new experience for most. The title of the series is Agua Nacida, which translates to "water born", Arnold uses the water and ocean as a feminine element recreating a womblike experience. Hugh Arnold shows the photos in black and white and in color. The color photos seem to concentrate more on the color, movement and beauty of the elements, while the black and white photos seem to focus the eye more on the fluidity of not the water but the human form.
Being a lover of the water, I was immediately drawn to the colors of the series. Running across other works of nudes, which are more direct and shock and awe, I've been put off or slightly averse but although this is a nude series it's not as in your face as the others which is a nice change. These definitely put into perspective the relative sizes of the viewer and the rest of nature. Hugh Arnold's Agua Nacida makes me want to explore photography more creatively. I'd love to include water and the elements but I know with that comes even more expensive protective gear. I liked this series so much that I am actually going to purchase the Agua Nacida photo book for my collection.
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