Pretty much all of them, Rose.

>>...which of 'my reasons' don't you feel would come from a bloke<<

This one:

"The desire to pose “artistically nude” for a talented photographer... is something I’ve always wanted to do but somehow never had the opportunity."

...and this

"...there’s this hideous beast following me... it goes by the rather serious handle of “gravity”... once this bitch takes hold completely, I’ll be forced to ditch any perception of myself as aesthetically-pleasing to the eye … won’t I?"

...this

"...my decision was based on a determination to thumb my nose at society’s obsession with youth."

...and (even re-sexed) this one

"I’m just an average, everyday 49-year-old mother-of-three who is fed up to the back teeth with not seeing her kind being realistically represented via the electronic or print media."

...definitely this

"A groundswell of collective shame accompanying ageing womanhood has built up in recent decades and I’ll be damned if I let it drag me under and force me to feel ugly"

...and of course

"I’m sick of feeling bullied by what I am seeing in Hollywood movies and the media. What else can a girl do when she has run out of genuine role models?"

...and my favourite

"Instead of dragging my arse screaming and kicking into my 50th year on the planet I’m un-gritting my teeth, thrusting my chest out (literally) with pride and running joyfully, arms outstretched into the warm embrace of a life having been lived - with all the traces of that life, very evident on my flesh."

They are all perfectly valid reasons, completely understandable, and I'm massively impressed with your ability to act upon them.

All I am saying - all I am saying, nothing more - is that none of the above would be heard from the lips of a guy.

But I did add the caveat that if I am wrong, I'd love to hear how it might be bloke-ily expressed.

Rose, you are a character, I am enjoying your responses immensely!

Diver Dan, I relate to your viewpoint, for instance, without de-railing Rose's photography and thread, I wish to add some strange attraction for years I've had, to males of any age wearing a black beanie with dark or grey hair, a balaclava and black track suit, and wait for it, black diving suits with males or females swimming under the sea. Have no idea why I enjoy and find these clothing items on a bloke sensual and attractive.

Pericles, would you consider doing so for a charity such as the Blind Society and Epilepsy - it was the first thought that popped into my head after I'd decided to raise funds for both the Blind Society and the Epilepsy Association assisting more directly during 2011. In an artistic and clinical way of course.

*In an artistic and clinical way of course.*

Sheesh, I love the concept. The OLO Calender for charity of course!

Pericles as Mr January
Unique as Ms February
Pelican as Ms March sounds like a good idea, I am sure she'll
volunteer :)

Lol guys!
I can see us all treating each other a little differently if we were all to post 'artistic' nudes of ourselves on this site!

After posting one of myself, I can just see all the male posters begging Graham for my email address... well, maybe not :)

I, for one, believe that it is only fair that we have a male OLO poster now volunteer to have some professional 'tasteful' nude photos of themselves posted on this site too.

What do you say girls?

Happy New Year to all :)
Cheers,
Suze xxx

A heartfelt Happy New Year to you Suze - relax and enjoy your break from patients, put your feet up, ask one of your daughters to mix you a Daquiri? cocktail, your hubby to massage your feet and back, while the sun sets and evening cools! You are a compassionate giver in life Suze.

Happy New Year to you to suze and one and all.

Reading the responses reminded me of the movie 'Calendar Girls' where a group of over 50s and 60s posed partially nude for a charity calendar on behalf of the Women's Institute. Some of those photos were beautiful, certainly better than any nudie calendar out there, but maybe some men will disagree.

I do think the obsession with youth denies us the opportunity (but only if we let it) to enjoy the glorious facets of our bodies as we age. That is for men and women alike.

Perhaps as Pericles suggests the feelings of ageing are more heightened in women. Maybe because we have traditionally been the 'attractant' while men are usually the 'approacher', so our worth has been to some extent wrapped up in our beauty. Men and women have different views on what constitutes beauty (in each other) so it is just as well we are not all the same.

Heh heh Yabby. Ms March... maybe after I lose this next 8 kilos. :)

I have posed for an artist but it was fully clothed in a costume piece and I have also drawn a nude. I am probably a bit shy for a nude photo shoot but admire people who have the courage to get 'out there'.

What about you Yabby. Mr April perhaps?