I Did It For Science by Grant Stoddard


To become a photographer of female nudes.


State your hypothesis in the form of a prediction that can be verified by the results of the experiment.


After interviewing several of the photographers who exhibit their most explicit work on Nerve, I must contend that they have the most rock 'n' roll job there is. I want in. Trouble is, I have no camera, very little money for models and, truth be told, I am to photography what Jessica Simpson is to zoology.

Please list all the materials required for this experiment (including, if applicable, how they were obtained).

Digital camera (one)
Red lipstick
Model releases (three)
Pot
Wine (cheap)





Jesse
Monika
Samantha
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In this portion of your report, you must describe, step-by-step, what you did in your lab. It should be specific enough that someone who has not seen the lab can follow the directions and recreate the same lab.

I asked a few photographers how they do it. Peter Gorman told me that finding models was the easiest step of the process. He began his career by shooting nudes of his then-girlfriend, now-wife.

"Do you have one of those?" he asked.

"No, I don't," I replied.

"You should get one — great place to start."

Not particularly helpful. Gorman went on to say that he once posted ads in dance studios and was deluged with volunteers. So I painstakingly constructed a flyer that read something like:

WOMEN WANTED FOR NUDE MODELING

Simple, beautiful. I posted flyers in art schools, dance academies and the areas surrounding NYU. Then I hurried back to the office, laughing to myself. I was certain I'd discovered how to roll back women's inhibitions , and underpants — for the sake of art.

A week later, I'd recieved zero responses. I tried to put an ad on Craig's List, but learned that the Craig's List minions — who find slippery-blowjob-wanted ads perfectly acceptable — forbid would-be photographers from soliciting nude models in the "miscellaneous jobs" section. Their concern: some artistes might have hidden agendas.

They had my number. Smart.

For further counsel, I turned to Siege, a young Brooklyn photographer who goes a few steps further than taking beautiful pictures of hot girls: he captures them fooling around with each other, then fucks them. He and his stunning bisexual girlfriend lead a life I just can't get my tiny mind around.

"You must have friends who'll do that," Siege told me. "What with your . . . job and all."

"Are you nuts?" I spluttered.

"My girlfriend and I have been having people over for a while," Siege explained. "Taking pictures was really an afterthought. We were just documenting what was going on anyway."

"Are you trying to make me hate you?" I replied.

"Look, if you ask nicely, it's amazing what people will do. Be up front, confident and respectful and see what happens. "

"But you have a ready-made harem!"

"But you have an accent," he reasoned. "You're miles ahead of the game."

What-fucking-ever! After I begged for leads, Siege directed me to a member of his "super-secret sex club." I casually asked her, as politely and confidently as one can over email, if she would model for me.

"I'd only feel comfortable doing that kind of thing for Siege," she wrote back.

It then became clear to me that Siege had sold his soul to the devil.

Several weeks later, I had relocated to Los Angeles, and I decided to resurrect my photography project. Something about L.A. made me feel that there was just enough desperation in the air for this thing to work.






Commentarium (11 Comments)

Nov 26 03 - 3:45pm
Seej

I'm all misty, my little man Grant is all growed-up! It happens so fast, it seems like just yesterday he came to me wide-eyed and curious, and now he's a budding pornographer. That's mah boy! Daddy's so proud.....

Nov 26 03 - 6:54pm
GC

Bravo Grant..... Glad to see you're back on your game.

Nov 27 03 - 8:42am
luv

good job, chap

Nov 28 03 - 2:21am
LaX

Fun, as always! "I did it for science..." is always my favorite Nerve installment. Rock on, Grant!

Nov 30 03 - 5:18pm
tca

what was in that bottle, tequilla?

hooch and cooch...

Dec 01 03 - 1:37pm
ME

As usual, Grant is the best thing that Nerve has going. Well done, Grant. Funny, insightful, and, most of all, human and engaging. Something that's usually lacking from Nerve's columnists. Great job, Grant. Now would you stop fucking around and take one up the ass for science?? You're audience is waiting.

Dec 02 03 - 8:52am
mom

very nice mr. sitcom. now that you're out in cali, you should find many willing lasses to strap one on and give you the bidness. lets go. you know you want to.

Dec 04 03 - 8:54pm
baby

so, the idea of taking nude photos of women ("hey, it's art") to get them to take their clothes off and maybe fuck you is, well, no more or less morally abhorrent (or not) than any other such cheesy strategy. however: it's important to note that the pro- or semi-pro photos one sees in nerve exhibit at least a rudimentary amount of photographic technique - composition; lighting; space. dude, sorry, but as a photographer, you suck.

here's second ME's request below....(keck has an article on this site you can use for background reading: http://www.nerve.com/personalEssays/Keck/assBackwards/)

Dec 05 03 - 5:27pm
chj

Great column.

For your next experiment, you should see if you can duplicate the circumstances of these internet reality porn sites (like http://www.teensforcash.com )

Jun 12 08 - 12:27pm
AB

Great job! Entertaining, funny and real.

Your study has many implications for the future of our civilization. But of course, like any study, this needs to be replicated. And I have decided to do so in my hometown.

One question -- what camera are you using and how did you light it?

Aug 11 11 - 8:23pm
BH

The last part of the column is cut off! I want to read the thrilling conslusion, can you fix it? Please?

Now you say something

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