Nude Camping

[description: front and back portraits of a nudist carrying a camp chair and volleyball]

So I went nude camping the other weekend. Played a little volleyball. Got some sun (but not too much). Being out of the lifestyle for several months (over the winter), it's always an interesting experience coming back. By now (this being my seventh year in the social scene), it's all very familiar to me, but there are still some things that one tends to look at in different ways as one's mindset changes. Having read much discussion online about one of organized nudism's biggest challenges - drawing a younger audience to replace the aging nudist population (I have to be honest, I consider the fact that most kids raised in nudism abandon the lifestyle in their teens to be a critical failure of nudism) - it was interesting for me to consider just how little the typical nudist camp experience (at least as I've known it) appeals to a stereotypical younger demographic. I mean, even the whole "drinking and partying late into the night" thing which all the aging attendees love to do (contrary to anyone who might think otherwise) seems less appealing when you're in a clubhouse with old and sagging bodies, instead of a nightclub filled with hot, young, nubile flesh.

I hate to be superficial - I really do. One of the amazing things about nudism is that you learn to judge people based on their personality, and not their looks. Somebody with a nice body could be a total a-hole, while someone else with a decidedly less "aesthetic" figure could be a total sweetheart. And seeing what happens to everybody's bodies as we grow older puts things into perspective. One of nudism's enduring and most redeeming features is its support of body acceptance. At the same time, I've never considered this position incompatible with the truth that beauty (even just pure, raw, physical beauty) is a virtue in and of itself, deserving of admiration. And one of the tenets of nudism that I regret to see has gone somewhat by the wayside these days is the emphasis on fitness.

I'm an all-inclusive kind of person, and if you want to drink and smoke and get piercings and tattoos and sit on your ass and grill steaks on the barbie, then have at it. It's [nominally] a free country, and if that's what makes you happy, then by all means, don't let me get in the way of your happiness. At the same time, I wouldn't mind seeing those of us who do appreciate physical fitness (both as participants and as spectators) having more opportunities and being given more leeway to indulge those interests. I know, there's a whole judgment culture that goes along with that that tends to be damaging to a body acceptance perspective. I'm not saying there aren't pitfalls to navigate. But I think they're worth navigating, instead of just picking a side. Like how I've explained my perspective on beauty pageants (a mostly outdated tradition in modern nudism - at least of the American variety). The competition aspect is perhaps not all that positive (although it still seems to be accepted in terms of athletic demonstrations, for better or worse), but I don't see what's the harm in continuing to celebrate, if in a more egalitarian manner.

Anyway, another one of my enduring regrets about the organized nudist scene is the total fear of cameras. It's a justified fear, to be sure, but it's still one I think we'd be better off overcoming. To be realistic, I don't see that happening anytime soon (although a nudist revolution - perhaps sparked by a younger demographic attached to their mobile devices, if it weren't so nonexistent - could introduce drastic and unforeseen changes). But I'm dedicated to it enough not to give up on it. To me, the risk of some stranger taking my picture is smaller than the gains I could receive from being able to photograph the nudist lifestyle. Granted, I'm in a somewhat unique position in that I don't have a reputation that needs to be protected (there are already naked pictures of me on the internet - put there deliberately by none other than myself; and I have nothing to lose by anyone learning that I am a nudist - indeed, I do not make that fact a secret), and that I happen to be a photographic artist (with the interest and the talent to create beautiful works of art on the subject of nudism, and not simply snapshots of naked people to share with my friends and laugh at/jerk off to, as the case of your worst nightmare might be - although, notice how neither of those contingencies are exactly end-of-the-world scenarios).

I've spent a lot of time thinking about a way to get around this obstacle - of wanting to shoot a subject that doesn't like to be shot at - but it's a thorny problem with no clear solution, especially to one such as me who has a hard time in the "social networking" game, and is also just liberated enough to make most people uncomfortable. That's all I can say for now, as it's an open case. Suffice to say, I'd love to take action shots of myself or others (but I could settle for myself) engaged in interesting physical activities like playing volleyball out in the sunshine, but until I can work out a solution to this problem, you'll have to settle for something decidedly less genuine. Just...use your imagination.

[description: portraits at different angles of a nudist simulating hitting a volleyball]

Try This On For Size (Frustrations)

Come join me once again in the fitting room. It's easy! All you have to do is grab a few things off the racks, take them to the fitting room, and then get naked!

[description: fitting room selfies in casual clothes, and naked]

Okay, you'll probably want to keep your underwear on while trying on clothes. But don't let that stop you from stripping nude just to take a few pictures! Because how often do you get to do that while you're out shopping?

Now, let's try on some clothes!

[description: fitting room selfies from front and back, in a light pink dress]

This pink dress was just adorable, but, unfortunately - and not for the last time this day - it was kind of a little, shall we say, "transparent". It's too bad, because the lacy strip through the middle that shows off a little skin is super flirty. Now, if you ask me, wearing a dress that practically amounts to a "second skin" is kind of sexy in and of itself, but I really don't think those high-definition nipples and obvious bulge would go over very well among the general population, especially when I'm trying to go incognito. (I'd prefer not to have to go incognito, and just have everybody accept me as a beautiful man in a dress, without trying to pass as a girl, but society doesn't work that way...yet).

[description: fitting room selfie in an open black robe, naked underneath]

This thing here was something between a black dress, a trench coat, and a one-piece suit. I thought it might be an interesting and more feminine alternative (for formal occasions) to a women's-cut business suit, but the fact that I was more interested in what was underneath it doesn't bode well. In fairness, though, black outfits really don't photograph well in this light. (It's a good thing I'm so pale!).

[description: fitting room selfie in a thin, jade green dress]

Oh my god, this shirt-dress thing was so soft and comfortable! I could totally see myself lounging around in it like a pair of pajamas. Unfortunately, though, like the pink dress above, it leaves nothing to the imagination. I have very little "body dysphoria" directed at my genitals (they serve their purpose -_^), but if ever I've hated having a penis, it's when I'm trying on clothes designed for vagina-bearers. I loved this piece to death, but it just didn't make sense for me to buy it, because 1) I could never really wear it out, and I'm getting sick of filling my closet with beautiful things I can never actually wear (it's getting depressing), and 2) I would probably never wear it as pajamas or "just around the house" because - let's be honest, if I'm in a setting where I don't have to hide my penis, I'm not going to be wearing anything. So that's that. :-\

[description: fitting room selfies from front and side, in a frilly strapless coral prom dress]

I'm still looking for that elusive perfect prom dress. Add this one to the long list of ones that just don't fit me. A shame, because I loved this one - the cut, the style, and my god, the color! It was more of a reddish orange (coral, really) than the pink it looks like in this picture, but regardless, it was beautiful. But I couldn't even zip it up all the way. By far, the number one issue I have with fancy dresses like this is that they don't fit around my [apparently] massive rib cage. Not that I don't have a thin enough waist, or wide enough hips, or even a chest that's too flat (although that one is often a problem, depending on the cut of the dress). No. It's my stupid ribs. Or in some cases, my wide shoulders. I swear to god, somebody needs to start a clothing line designed for men who like ultra-feminine, girly dresses and other clothing (including shoes! - my god, it's impossible to find cute shoes in my size; all the size twelves tend to be super-tacky - like, why? just because I have big feet doesn't mean they aren't cute!). A niche audience, perhaps, but one that's under-represented! Hell, I'd even volunteer to be the spokesmodel!

Anyway. Here are a couple more nudes - because, why not? Life can always be improved by a few more nude selfies. Don't forget to share!

[description: nude fitting room selfies]

See you next time!

Outfit of the Day (#ootd)

[description: car selfie wearing a short pink minidress]

This little pink "pool slip" is one of my favorite things to wear when I'm headed out to a nudist resort, because it's so simple and skimpy (I like it so much, I own two!). It's just one piece - easy to slip on and off (yet the tie at the top helps keep it in place so it's not constantly slipping down, seeing as I don't have breasts to help hold it up with) - and it doesn't cover very much (short of baring my midriff - it's about as skimpy as a one piece slip can get), but keeps me "legal" for things like stores and restaurants (which a simple pair of shorts, or a skimpy swimsuit, might not do). Plus, it's always fun to wear really short skirts with thongs underneath, for a more "naked" feeling. (I'd go commando if it weren't for the fact that I need to put my "equipment" in a tool box - sadly, society is not yet ready for a dong flopping about underneath a skirt - the bulge is enough for me to worry about as it is). It's cute, and flirty, and represents the best of what summer is all about - showing off skin!

Nudists and Tanning

[description: triptych of portraits of a nude man standing at different angles]

Over the past five years or so, I seem to have gotten into the habit of taking pictures to document my tan (or lack thereof, as the case may be) after spending time practicing outdoor nude recreation. It's only Memorial Day - the first official weekend of the unofficial summer season (because summer actually starts 2/3 of the way through June, on a day the pagans referred to as "midsummer" - confused yet?) - but I'm excited, because this was the first time I'd been able to get nude out in the sunshine since last September! Well, it looks like I managed to avoid getting a burn this past weekend - which is always good - despite participating in a volleyball tournament. (It was pretty overcast on that day, for what that's worth).

I could probably fill a book with my observations of the nudist lifestyle (not all of them entirely nudist-kosher), one of which is the fact that they are all so very tan. Which makes sense - given all the time they spend out in the sunshine. I don't doubt that if I had the privilege of living a 24/7 (or hell, even an every-weekend-during-the-summer - as it is, I can only afford the time, money, and effort to make it out to a nudist camp about 4-6 weekends a year, depending on scheduling) outdoor nudist lifestyle (as opposed to staying cooped up indoors as I am usually forced to), I'd probably be pretty tan after a while too, in spite of any efforts to the contrary.

Which is the thing. You get the feeling sometimes that nudists enjoy getting a sun burn. It's certainly not surprising that some of them take their tans very seriously, and are proud of them. Personally, I've never understood tanning culture, even within the textile community. Maybe it's just because I think pale skin is attractive (for whatever reasons). I even think pale nudists are more appealing, because, while a dark, all-over tan suggests copious amounts of exposure, a pale body implies new, fresh skin, and all of the excitement of new experience that comes with its exposure - at least in terms of psychoanalytical interpretation.

Suffice to say that I don't mind getting a little sun in the summer time - a little, natural bronzing is okay, but I don't like tan lines at all. Being out in the sun in a t-shirt brings thoughts of a most un-appealing "farmer's tan", which leads me to want to take off my shirt. But then I think about the length of the legs of my shorts, and I begin to rue the fact that it's not commonly accepted in our society for men to walk around in Speedos, outside of pools and beaches and water parks (and, to be honest, maybe not even there...). But even that would leave me with an uncharacteristically pale behind. (I swear, even during the winter this past year, my butt was still paler than the rest of my body, long after I'd been out of the sun).

[description: bathroom mirror selfie of a nude figure with long, blonde hair, tan skin, and a pale butt]

Is the solution staying out of the sun entirely? For much of my life, I thought so. Nowadays, there are things worth doing out in the sun (and the more exposed you are, the more fun they are), so I have to live with the compromise of trying to create a gradual fade between darker and lighter skin, rather than a harsh and unappealing tan line. But it's worth stating that, unlike how most nudists would probably feel, I value my pale skin. I don't particularly want to end up looking like the prototypical nudist, with dark orange, leathery skin. And while sunshine is essential to our health as human beings, I don't imagine that getting too much of it is a very good idea. So, I guess I'll go on heavily patronizing the sunscreen industry.

It's worth noting, however, that I am boycotting the Coppertone brand - in spite of the monopoly they hold over the sunscreen market - on account of their inexcusable prudishness. Once upon a time, their brand was marked by the iconic image of a little girl on the beach, with her swimsuit being pulled down by an ornery dog, to reveal her tan line. It was cute, and it made perfect sense in an advertisement for a sun tanning product. These days, however, the girl's pale butt has been covered up, and what's more, her swimsuit has been switched - in an excessively modest move - from a pair of briefs to a more suitably Victorian one piece (quite in contrast to modern trends). If you're as incensed by this gymnophobia as I am, then I invite you to join me in boycotting Coppertone, until such time as they revert their brand logo to the far less uptight way it used to be. In the meantime, Banana Boat provides an acceptable alternative.

Trans Nonconformity

Just came across this article today - Telling Trans Stories Beyond 'Born in the Wrong Body' - from the excellent SSEX BBOX series and I wanted to share it with you, because it's something I believe in. Sharing trans stories is supposed to build awareness and create community, but we've constructed a stereotypical experience that ends up being limiting to all those out there that don't fit the mold of "being transgendered". We must be careful, when stepping outside of one box, not to simply create another around ourselves. People's genders and sexualities come in a rainbow of colors, and there are not just six (or even seven) colors in the rainbow. The rainbow is infinitely colorful!

"For the longest time, I didn’t think that I counted as trans because I thought you had to hate your body in order to be part of the trans community."

And what kind of a message is that? I support a new conception of "being transgendered" that doesn't rely on the gender binary, and celebrates the diversity of ways that a transgendered person can present themselves - their identity and their body - to the world. Whether that means adopting a male persona, a female persona, neither, both, something in between, or something else altogether.

"And with all this bathroom nonsense happening, I feel like the people who are going to be disproportionately affected are gender-nonconforming folks."

This, absolutely this. Still tied to the gender binary. A or B. Male or female. What if you don't even know what your gender is? It's easy to say "let your genitals lead the way", but that doesn't make using the restroom any more comfortable or safer for nonconforming individuals. All these bigots who insist that you're either male or female, and you have to use this or that bathroom, are not simply being principled, they're actively supporting hostile environments for nonconformists. They're prioritizing the principle of conformity to a certain, arbitrary standard, over the comfort and safety of human beings just because they look or act different. This attitude is "natural" in a sense, and it's been popular for most of human history, but from an enlightened, humanitarian perspective, it's wrong - pure and simple.

Sex-Positive Education

I'm actually in the process of mulling over my own personal manifesto detailing what I believe sex-positivity should be, since I've come across so many sex-positives with iffy views. But I encountered this article on educating your kids in a sex-positive manner, and while it's generally a very good article with very good advice, there were a few comments I wanted to make.

8 Sex Positive Things You Can Say To Your Kids

1. "Your Body Belongs To You"

Standard good advice. But you'll notice that people always phrase this in the negative, and not realize that the freedom to say no also encompasses the freedom to say yes. Otherwise you do not have ownership of your own body, and you are simply being told to always say no (which relates to what other people want you to do with your body, and not what you actually want). So, yes, your body belongs to you, and that means no one gets to touch you without your permission. But that also means that if you want somebody to touch your body, you're allowed to give them permission to do so.

2. "If They're Not Having Fun You Have To Stop; If You're Not Having Fun, They Have To Stop"

This is a good baseline rule, but the whole "if this...then you have to stop" rubs me the wrong way. People have sex for different reasons. Having fun is perhaps one of the best. Whether or not having sex when you're not having fun is wrong or unhealthy, I believe in a person's basic freedom to engage in un-fun sex if they so choose. That's all part of the "your body belongs to you" mantra. You get to make decisions about your own body. You don't have to follow arbitrary rules that other people make for you.

Now, if the person you're having sex with is not having fun, then you should stop - unless or until you have good reason to believe that that person really does want to continue despite it not being fun for them - and that doing so won't make you criminally liable if any physical or psychological harm should result. Sex positive does not mean that all sex is always positive - it means that we take a positive approach towards sex, and we give people the basic freedoms and choices they have a right to have.

But, I'll grant the author the benefit of the doubt here, because this is probably one of those "complications" that are best left until a person has reached a certain level of maturity. I wouldn't necessarily expect a kid to be able to understand or deal with a situation like that, nor would I necessarily want them involved in those kinds of experiences. Plus, it could make sex seem unnecessarily scary, which would have the opposite desired effect that sex-positive education is going for.

3. "Penis. Vulva. Labia. Vagina. Breasts. Testicles."

Yes, this is crucial for enabling people to talk about sex, which is critically important for dealing with any and all problems that arise. However...

"vulvas are private"

Wrong, wrong, so wrong. This is NOT sex positive. Your body, your rules. That means if you don't want anyone (except you and your doctor) to see your vulva, then fine. But there is NOTHING wrong with showing people your vulva - e.g., if you happen to be a nudist. The whole "private parts" thing is very body negative and needs to be done away with post haste. We do not have public parts and private parts - we just have parts. Whether or which of those you want to make public or private is your individual choice, and it should not influence your opinion of those who make different choices than you.

Also, as I explained above, "only you or your doctor is allowed to touch your testicles" pretty much violates the whole "your body belongs to you" thing, doesn't it? Everybody is fine and dandy on "if you don't want to be touched, you have the right not to be touched." But it's a two-sided coin, and sex positivity encompasses the freedom to give people the permission to touch you if you want them to.

4. "Love Is Love"

Agreed. It's very important that kids be exposed to both alternative sexualities - gays and lesbians (among others) - as well as transgendered individuals (which kids currently still have a hard time understanding, because we still live in a culture that teaches that there are only two kinds of people - boys and girls). This should absolutely not wait until "they're old enough", which indeed encourages the viewpoint that there is something taboo about their very existence.

5. "To Each Their Own"

Yes. And let's please stop stigmatizing people for playing with their toys in ways that seem odd to the majority of the population. Diversity is beautiful.

6. "Everyone's Body Deserves Respect"

Yes! Absolutely. Especially adolescent bodies, which are the most vulnerable to body-negative messages and yet are still extremely taboo.

On the flip side, however, it's important to understand that it's okay to be attracted to some bodies and not others. It doesn't change the way you should treat a person - people deserve respect whether you're attracted to them or not - and it's not nice to insult people because you don't like the way their bodies look. But as long as you're polite and respectful, it's okay not to be attracted to everybody and think that every body is equally beautiful.

Also, it's good to focus on the fact that bodies are for more than just appearance - what matters is not just how they look, but what they can do. (And a good analogy for not insulting people because you don't like the way their bodies look is thinking about disabled people - their bodies may not be able to perform some functions that other bodies can, but they are still human beings deserving of dignity and respect).

7. "You Are Loved And Valued"

This is a great message - especially if you're saying these things to your kid - though I'm not sure to what extent it's part of a sex positive framework. I don't know how convincing it is to tell someone they are "loved and valued" if they're living out on the street with no friends because their parents kicked them out of the house. It might be better to tell people to make an effort to love and value others, rather than feeding them what could amount to sweet lies. Certainly, if you love and value the person you're teaching these values to, then by all means, go ahead and let them know that. Feeling loved and valued is indeed important to developing a healthy, sex-positive attitude, but attacking people for loving and valuing people just because we don't understand the form that that love and value takes doesn't contribute to that.

8. "I Am Here Whenever You Need Someone To Listen"

Also good. A lot of sex problems can be alleviated by having someone to talk to, that you don't feel ashamed about discussing sex (and your personal sexual feelings and activities) with. It should be noted that most parents fall far short of this, however, and in some (perhaps a lot of) cases, parents are not a child's first choice for these kinds of discussions. We can maybe change that by starting an open dialogue early, but I think it's also important that there be other resources available out there for kids to turn to in case they don't feel comfortable talking about this stuff with their parents. (Which means we'll need to relax some of the restrictions and knee-jerk reactions we have to unrelated adults talking to kids about sex).

Nude At Home

[description: series of portraits of a nude man posing against a kitchen counter]

This photoshoot was inspired in part by a post on a blog I've just discovered - which is worth taking the time to peruse - by one who intriguingly refers to himself as a "Naturist Philosopher". My primary inspiration came from a recent post [NSFW] discussing the extent to which naturism (or nudism - in my opinion, the terms are interchangeable) continues to be controversial from a mainstream perspective. The post features an image of a nude young woman (who appears to be a genuine nudist, judging from her even tan) in a kitchen, labelled with the words, "of course I go nude at home - doesn't everyone?"

Obviously, not everyone does go nude at home, or else we wouldn't be having this conversation. On the other hand, it's not unheard of for a person to (often unexpectedly) chime in, when prompted, and say, "oh, sure, I go nude around the house - it's no big deal." I would go so far as to wager that a lot more people engage in so-called "home nudism" - even if only on occasion, and only when alone - than are willing to let on. Many of them probably don't even consider themselves nudists. But in the privacy of your own home, and especially when you're alone, it's not so scandalous to occasionally go nude. It's the next and safest step past changing in the bedroom, or washing up in the bathroom. And as long as you keep your nudity to yourself, and insist on covering up the moment you hear a knock at the door, few members of the general population will have anything substantial to complain about.

But that is precisely where the serious nudists differ from the casual ones. "Social" nudism is defined by participation in nudist activities among other (like-minded) people. And that's where "normal" textiles trip up. Going nude alone is largely a matter of how comfortable you are with your own body, but going nude in front of others violates some serious taboos that are tied in to traditional (and, frankly, outdated) notions of privacy and modesty. That they are unhealthy notions that deserve to go the way of the dinosaur doesn't change the fact that the majority of the population still believes in them. And going nude with other people who are also nude? Well, how could the purpose of such an activity be anything other than total, unrestrained sexual abandon? It's no wonder so many people think nudism is a front for wild sex orgies. The truth is quite contrary to that belief, and exposure to the lifestyle - what it actually is, and what it actually isn't, as well as how it genuinely differs from other more and less similar lifestyles that it is constantly confused with, such as "swinging" - in more and more mainstream channels can only serve to help alleviate that misunderstanding.

That is why it is my belief that a more permissive approach towards the use of cameras in designated nudist areas can only help nudism, and not hurt it. Of course, we as nudists must be willing to get over the fact that people are going to see us naked - but it strikes me as odd that nudists, of all people, would have trouble with this. To be fair, there is stigma against nudists among the textile population, and many nudists hide their lifestyles for fear of repercussions from the people they know, love, or work with finding out, but we can only move forward and build tolerance by coming out wholesale and letting people know who we are, what we're about, and that we're not willing to just lie back and let people discriminate against us.

What about the gawkers, you say? The fact of the matter is that nudity attracts people's attention. It's why it's often used in art and protests that otherwise have nothing to do with people's bodies. That might be less true in a more nudist-accepting society, but I think that even among nudists, there is a certain biological interest that isn't going to go away. But what's wrong with this? Should we fight human nature, or just roll with it? Giving people a view into nudist environments (instead of erecting tall fences) will indulge, but also satisfy many people's curiosity. And if we want to draw the attention away from the resorts themselves, where basically having a looking gallery would affect the comfort of the nudists in attendance, we can simply outsource the view by allowing photography, and sharing more images and videos of what goes on inside those fences with the public, perhaps via media sharing online. It's a radical approach, but evolution can only occur through change.

[description: a nude man stands with back arched, arms behind head, sporting an erection]

I suppose I am working at cross-purposes to the nudist strategy of disassociating sex with nudity by posting images like this one. Is it not enough for me to disclaim that this particular image is not indicative of a nudist environment? If I were posting a nudist brochure, I would certainly omit an image such as this one - not out of a desire to hide anything, but simply to avoid misrepresenting the lifestyle. But this is my personal blog, and I am as much fighting for sexual liberation as nudist acceptance, and I am first and foremost a nude and erotic photographer. I think both subjects (nudity and eroticism) are beautiful and life-affirming, and frankly (this may be a mark against me, but so be it) the more time I spend on this Earth, the less patience I have for the less evolved members of the population who can't make the distinction between the two without having their hands held the whole way, and those who can't conduct themselves with dignity and self-control in the presence of those situations where the two (nudity and eroticism) inevitably overlap.

Let me just explain it like this (I've described a similar situation before). Sex, like nudity, is something taboo that the general population begrudges the existence of, but insists that it remains a "private" function. Nudists reject this conclusion for nudity. I reject this conclusion for both nudity and sex. Regardless, consider a typical nudist who might practice social nudism on occasion, but still firmly believes that sex acts deserve to remain private. When he is among textiles, he remains clothed. When he is among nudists, he will go nude. When he is alone, he may engage in sex acts, but not when he is with other people - unless it is a person (or persons - let's be inclusive here - that he is sexually intimate with). Suppose he is home alone. He may decide to go nude. Or he may decide to browse porn on his computer. Or, he could do both. If he does browse porn, though, this is not a strike against nudism in any way, because he is doing so at home, alone. This is true even if he is nude. So if you practice home nudism, and you also occasionally practice "home eroticism" (like me prancing about the kitchen with an erection, as seen above), there is nothing wrong or contradictory about that. The fact that I am willing to show you both merely demonstrates my position not just on nudism, but on the freedom of sexual expression as well.

And with that, I'll leave you with one last image, just for fun. Because if life is too short to waste time paying lip service to our nudity taboos, then it is also too short to observe the similar restrictions placed against sharing in all the fun that comes when we indulge in our sexual desires. As long as we can do so with dignity, and in a civilized fashion, then I see no problem with it. And if too much of the population is incapable of holding themselves to these standards, I think that's dreadfully unfortunate, but I'm not going to let the failures of the many prevent me from getting some meager enjoyment out of life. As I said, it's too short to do anything otherwise.

[description: a nude figure bends over a kitchen counter, while another grips a cucumber]