Carlo Nunez is a self-described “nude photographer”. His images capture a hyperrealist representation of East Los Angeles. Inspired by fast cars, Latino culture, and the works of Helmut Newton and David Bellemere, his subjects of choice are women who are unafraid to be aggressive in front of the camera; “girls who treat you like shit and you love it”. His photography gives you a look into his fantasy life, he likes girls pulling “Metallica” shirts above their breasts or clutching 7-11 “big gulps”. The goal is to create photographs that seduce the viewer.
In order to achieve an easy-going vibe on set (and less static work) Carlos prefers to break the wall between model and photographer by playing the role of “the boy-friend”. His goal is to put his subjects at ease to get through the “creepy interaction” sometimes required to produce seductive imagery. He is anti “snap-shot” and argues that, “anybody can take a picture but a photographer makes a picture”. When looking for ideas he thinks back to moments in his personal life and tries to recreate them and “get them better”.
Carlos discovered his passions at age of 14 when he began illegally driving his first car from his family home in Orange County to Los Angeles. At this time in his life the inner city feel of Echo Park first inspired him and he continues to juxtapose the urban with greenery or “enchanted gardens” found within the city. His favorite places to shoot include the ornate mariachi plaza in Boyle Heights. He looks to Hispanic metal and skateboarder culture for the kind of “fuck you” attitude that he wants the women in his photographs to embody.
He associates two things with California: Girls and Cars. His work is full of the kind of nostalgia associated with being young, driving around, and looking for cool things to do. That means that he is more interested in perpetuating realism vs. luxury. He wants his images to appeal to the fashion crowd but also to far-away desert dwellers, friends, and family alike. In order to remain essential Carlos feels that it is important for a photographer to be able to “roll with the punches”, convey a feeling of himself without remaining ignorant to a world and a market that is constantly influx.
Naked photography is all about the subject, “people being themselves”. Nude photography is all about the photographer – the photographer’s sexuality” - David Bailey