Imagethief is a misanthrope, and firmly believes that most people have no business being photographed nude under any circumstances. It's not that Imagethief objects to nudity per se --far from it-- it's just that he prefers it when it involves people with supermodel good looks. He also uses the word "firmly" intentionally in the preceding questions, because your average person does not have supermodel good looks, and is not firm in any discernible way. This becomes even more obvious as the camera slathers on its legendary extra pounds. That's why Imagethief was alarmed to see the following article in today's China Daily:

Nudity shoot for lovers emerges in Changchun

It must be those Dongbei winters that do it.

Now, if you say "nudity shoot" to Imagethief, he is prone to picture an event involving a nudist colony, a rifle and a six pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon. This is pretty weird, because he is a bona-fide, Chardonnay-swilling San Franciscan ivory-tower intellectual, and not some kind of rural, militia nut, as the preceding sentence might suggest. As we learn in PR, its all in the language.

Nevertheless, the China Daily is referring to the sudden predeliction of Changchun-ers for nude wedding and couples photography, and not some kind of perverted, redneck murderfest. Read on:

Some photo studios have begun to provide nude photo services for lovers and couples in Changchun, capital of Northeast China's Jilin Province. However, privacy concerns have posed a challenge for both the photographer and the clients.

To avoid tangling over the privacy issue, the photo studio will sign a secrecy contact before the shoot, arrange a "third" person on the scene, and destroy the negatives and damaged photos after the work is done for those clients open and brave enough to have the shoot.

To date, there is no law in China that prohibits taking nude photos, while the amount of nudity is under the control of the photographer and the photo takers. But as nude art is a serious body art, the posture and the baring parts are strictly regulated when photographing nudity.

The photographer suggests the photo takers be only partially nude. For example, the takers could use some accouterment to cover their private parts to express the implicit beauty.

Well, Imagethief thinks we can all agree that nude photography is more about explicit beauty than implicit beauty. If you want to express implicit beauty, wear a suit, speak politely and use silverware. If you want to express explicit beauty, have a nude photo shoot. Nonetheless, per Imagethief's anxiety concerning average people nude on film, its good to see a modicum of restraint being applied. As the China Daily's sample shots show, there is many a tasteful fig leaf on display. There is also some pixelation over the eyes, but one must assume that your own nude wedding shots won't be delivered that way. What a gyp.

Despite the fig leafs, naturally (or naturalistically) not everyone thinks this is a grand idea:
Nude photo taking has been very popular abroad for many years. In China, where such photos are relatively new, there has been much discussion. Some old people view it as degenerative and think it reflects unhealthy mentalities.

But some young people think it is just another of the many signs of moral decay in modern society. Others riding the fence consider it as a personal behavior that others have no right to interfere in.

So let's this straight: old people think it's degenerate and reflects an unhealthy mentality, while young people think it's a sign of moral decay. And they say the generations have nothing in common. Eat that, Pete Townshend! Meanwhile, those considering this to be private behavior are "riding the fence". Wimps. I note that Chinese national porn site and news service Xinhua wasn't polled. They probably would have been all for it. In fact, promises to burn the negatives notwithstanding, Imagethief is willing to lay odds that Xinhua will be running a "Donbei Matrimonial Nudefest" any day now. Hey, Danwei guys, keep your eyes peeled!

Finally, there's always academia to rain on your nude parade:
Zheng Lusheng from the Academy of Social Science of Jilin Province said: "The purpose of taking wedding photos is to share happiness with relatives and friends. But nude wedding photos cannot do this; after all it is an intimate thing.
Well, that depends on how open-minded your friends and relatives are, doesn't it? It would certainly get people reaching for the wedding album more often.

In fact, Imagethief invites the adventurous amateur models of Changchun to share their nuptial joy with him. Send your photos care of this website. Supermodel good looks only, please. I have to compete with Xinhua.

Bonus pop-culture quiz: What excuse did Pete Townshend give when he was busted with kiddie porn on his computer a few years back? No Google!