Tag: self-esteem

Confident Selfies!

Selfie motivated!

The arrival of our annual GLBTQ+ Pride Month celebrations encourages many within our community to experiment with the contemporary phenomena of selfie photography and/or posing. This engagement not only satisfies the curiosity and desire to explore the current obsession but to also provide them with a resource as to their appearance “in the eyes” of others.

This process offers them not only self-assurance but self-confidence as well. It affords them the opportunity to analyze their image but also judge themselves without making a public spectacle of their efforts. The privacy of their home environment enables them to comfortably express themselves as they have witnessed celebrities posing.

Creating these selfie pictures gives the self-photographer images to share with close friends to gain their thoughts on his posing. This additional insight often increases the number of poses a person may consider sharing with others and/or saving.

For those selfie creators who are unfamiliar with posing and photographing their nakedness, this presents them an ideal opportunity capture themselves in the bare practitioner mode (environment, setting). While gaining confidence with exposing their nakedness, it affords them the chance to share themselves with others through sharing their images.

This enables familiarity with body and clothes freedom. It no longer is a distant and foreign concept or practice but one that comes closer to comfort and reality – a sense of “normal” and routine. Another step in the journey towards bare practitioner! The process of exploration awakens knowledge and understanding.

This experience affords to some all that is necessary to pursue the lifestyle of an active bare practitioner. For the majority, it offers insight – a glimpse – into the community and culture and what it entails and promotes. This introduction does, hopefully, give birth to a respect and a tolerance towards all persons who are or become bare practitioners!

Advice!

My spouse, Aaron, offers the thought below:

“Same gender loving and nakedness are compatible and natural. They compliment one another; like a rose blooming on a bush.” ~ Aaron Michael Peterson-Poladopoulos ~ 28 March, 2022

In a more exemplary manner, I offer the following summation for today’s theme here on ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! for pondering:

“Man designs fashions. Man makes clothes. Man makes mistakes! The measure of a man isn’t based on the clothes that he wears. The true measure of a man is determined by the clothes that he is not wearing! Bare is the perfection of the human body without the mistakes.” ~ Roger Peterson-Poladopoulos ~

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Thursday, June 19, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “USA: Juneteenth Holiday!”

Posing Bare: Part 2!

Arm-in-Arm biracial couple posing!

Alternate Title:

Be Bold! Be Brave! Be You!

Introduction:

One of the complaints/excuses/reasons that many offer for not having pictures of their nudity is they lack experience in posing as a bare practitioner! My normal response to that statement is usually a simple question back to them: “What does a bare practitioner do?” A very basic inquiry that is more often than not answered with either a blank stare, a shrug of the shoulders and/or a combination of both!

Sadly, even if I rephrased my initial question into “What do naked people do?” the reaction would probably be identical. Beyond comprehension! Even if I asked this of seasoned bare practitioners, their reply, more often than not, would be consistent: no idea. Clueless! Apparently, the concept and/or the question is just too difficult for people to understand.

A unipod selfie poser!

Unsure of what to do? Take it easy and slow. Make a selfie! If you’re baffled. just strip off (remove) all your clothes – if you’re even wearing any – and pose for a photograph of yourself an no one else. Suggestion: A full frontal pose (like the above picture) is highly recommended. Regardless of one’s naked experience, most men are awkward posing with their penis visible. It’s best to deal with the most difficult task and then move on! So, go ahead and take your selfie now!

There, in one basic action you have met and satisfied the complete alternate title for this post! You were bold in taking off all your clothes, You were brave by posing front-facing and completely nude and you were your natural person by being solo (alone)!

Congratulations! You have now completed your first assignment! Remember this process! Now, if you’re ever asked: “What do naked people do?” you already have an answer. “We take selfies of our nakedness!” You now have proof: a picture of yourself posing bare!

Regrettably, we all know that the creation of one self-image does not qualify us for identity as an experienced model, but it does – at the very least – present us the notion that posing bare isn’t as foreign as it may seem. Maybe this project is a possibility after all!

A seated pose!

Assignment:

Set aside a specific day and time to shoot additional solo selfies of yourself. Try a variety of poses and some need to be full frontal so your penis doesn’t become “camera-shy!” This gives you the idea of how to appear (look) nude while helping to build camera-comfort and camera-confidence.

A kneeling pose!

Repetition! Repetition! Repetition! The more we repeat an action, the easier it becomes. Changing the location of the camera and/or the position you’re using (seated, kneeling, standing) offers a variety of pictures as a resource and it prevents boredom. This enables your harshest critic (yourself) to decide which pose looks/works best and which to discard or erase.

A standing pose showing modesty!

Perform these solo selfie undertakings on a daily or weekly basis, whichever is convenient for you. Keep in mind that you are the judge of what’s acceptable and what is not. No one else needs to know what you’re doing or why you’re doing it! You decide who views the results and/or makes recommendations! Be you! You pose! You make the image! You decide!

Michael Ealy: reading interest!

Share you:

During your convenient “camera-comfort” and “camera-confident” times, rather than let your mind wander aimlessly, carefully consider any subtle messages to include in your pictures (selfies). Some examples are hobbies, special interests, sports, etc. Anything that conveys to a viewer an aspect that you appreciate about or in your life.

In the photo (above), Hollywood actor Michael Ealy nonchalantly poses bare with a pile of books. He’s suggesting his pleasure in reading during his leisure (free) time time as well as his comfort with his nakedness. A replication of this image by you relays the same. If books and/or reading holds no value for you, consider something that does.

Athletics and sports significant? Grab a basketball or a tennis racquet! Swimming? Put on a pair of goggles and pose in imitation of taking a dive into a pool. Creativity has no limits – after all, we are posing bare! It’s common knowledge that all observations are focused on the nudity of the subject and not the objects featured!

Basketball fan!

Subtle messages:

In concluding this second segment of the “Posing Bare” series here on ReNude Pride, please return your attention to the header (first photograph) offered of the two men pictured with full frontal nudity. Both my spouse, Aaron and I are a proud biracial couple. He’s African-Canadian and I’m Greek. This fact is implied in the selection of this particular photo. We’re both bare practitioners, our skin is simply a different colour.

Also, we’re depicted “arm-in-arm;” not holding hands or embracing. As a profoundly Deaf man since birth, I communicate manually (sign language). Therefore, holding hands is just not convenient or practical for me. Aaron accepts, supports and understands this reality. If we’re walking holding hands, how would we communicate with one another?

Remember the adage: “Every picture tells many stories?” More truth than you can ever imagine!

Notation: The next segment of this series, “Posing Bare: Part 3!” will be published on Monday, 10 February, 2025!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, January 27, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Towel Dilemma!”

Pride: Tan-Lines?

Tan-line proof!

“Tan-Lines: proof positive that we sneak around wearing swimsuits while out playing in the sunshine!” ~ Aaron Peterson-Poladopoulos ~

Tan-line: absolute proof!

Myth: only Caucasian people have tan–lines. Absolutely false!

A more descriptive and official definition of tan-lines comes across the internet (courtesy Wikipedia) as: “visibly clear division of the human skin between an area of pronounced comparative paleness relative to other areas that have been suntanned by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation or by sunless tanning.” No slight to my spouse, Aaron, is intended as his off-the-cuff remark is closer to reality but not as authoritative nor credible as the digital version. However, he does offer an easier to understand rendition!

Aaron further details his offering as a “garment signature on our skin.” The ultimate proof that the person blatantly exposing their tan-line is either new to the bare practitioner life and scene or guilty of being closeted (secretive) about their naked preference. Our culture is very welcoming and receptive to our recent converts to our lifestyle! Less so to our closeted souls!

Tan-lines appear in all races and ethnicities!

One common myth that is popular is that tan-lines only occur in the lighter-skinned persons. The inclusion of images here featuring individuals with darker-skin tones proves that this is a false conception. All persons, regardless of race and ethnicity, experience tan-lines.

Another myth is that the lighter the skin tone, no tan-lines are discernable. This is indeed a false determination again using pictures to refute the misconception.

Flexing his muscles doesn’t conceal his tan-line!
Vintage: tan-lines are not a new phenomena!

Tan-lines have existed as long as humanity. It is not a recent development without any precedent. Since man first used fig-leaves to hide genitalia, tan-lines have been a reality of nature.

Tan-lines are concrete evidence of conflict in the lives of the bearer. It confirms a serious discrepancy in their bare status. Deception or indecision? Only the person with the actual tan-line knows for certain the truth of the matter and most of them are unwilling to acknowledge confusion.

Tan-line pride!

One of the common uses of tanning beds and/or tanning rooms is the option of tanning completely nude in order to reduce the appearance of tan-lines. In contrast, some people prefer to have tan-lines and will wear swimwear or undergarments with the deliberate purpose of creating a sharply defined tan-line.

There are some same gender loving men who envision the existence of tan-lines on the body of another as very sexually appealing. They are appreciative and attracted to others because of this phenomena. I’m Greek (fair skinned) and my spouse, Aaron, is African-Canadian (dark skinned). Neither of us find a tan-line desirable or exciting but we both know men who do! The presence of diversity in our community and culture is a fact of life that we all welcome!

Thong caused tan-line!

PostScript: The tan-line is also a physical confirmation that the wearer is employed as a lifeguard (beach patrol) at a mainstream (non clothing-optional) facility.

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, June 9, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Clarifications!”

National HIV Testing Day

Today is National HIV Testing Day in the USA and some other parts of the world. Observed on June 27, annually, this date is designated to remind us all of the importance of knowing our HIV status and in doing so, enhance our health. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is no longer the life-threatening condition that it once was and through treatment and medication, it is now a manageable disease. It remains, however, a communicable infection with serious consequences if untreated. That is the reason testing for HIV is very important to our health.

Continue reading National HIV Testing Day