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2,500 individuals go nude for a day for mass naked photo shoot in Australia

By JUSTINE PUNZALAN Published Nov 28, 2022 9:14 pm Updated Nov 29, 2022 6:00 pm

Some find posing naked nerve-wracking, while some find it empowering. For the thousands of people who participated in Spencer Tunick's latest photo session, it is a way of educating others to make healthier choices in life.

On Nov. 26, Tunick gathered 2,500 individuals at the famed Bondi beach in Sydney, Australia for a mass naked photo shoot that aims to raise awareness about skin cancer.

The American photographer has been known for his mass naked photo shoots, which he would usually take in iconic landmarks around the globe.

For this year's affair, he teamed up with the Australian foundation Skin Check Champions in using photography as an art honoring the body and promoting proper care for it. This is in addition to the organization's goal to encourage regular skin checks among Australians.

"We have an opportunity to raise awareness about skin checks and I'm honored... to come here, make my art, and just celebrate the body and protection," Tunick said in an interview with Reuters.

Meanwhile, Skin Check Champions founder Scott Maggs that the number of individuals who participated in the event represents the 2000+ Australians who die every year because of skin cancer.

"We're aiming for a minimum of 2,000 participants to represent the 2,000+ Aussies that are killed by skin cancer every year," he said in a press release.

"If the Sydney Opera House can get 5,500 on a cold morning in March 2010, we're hoping to reach our goal of 2,500," he said. "Everyone is welcome to participate, we welcome all body types, genders, and race—with a passion to stop skin cancer in its tracks."

Tunick shared a video of the large-scale art event on his Facebook page on the same day. He captioned his post, "We gathered in nothing but our skin, watching the first rays of light creep over the horizon of Bondi Beach, standing with respectful strength, honouring all those who’ve been killed or done battle with our ‘national cancer,' knowing that we will be the generation to stop it."

While the video captured the participants baring their all as they stand on the horizon, the photo that has been making rounds online so far shows each individual lying on their side, with their faces hidden from the camera. 

Participant Bruce Fasher, 77, told AFP that he thought of the experience as "a good cause," especially after spending half of his life "under the sun and had a couple of malignant melanomas" taken off his back.

Apart from being known for these large-scale naked photo shoots, Tunick said that he found it "fitting" to use his platform "to urge people to get regular check-ups to prevent skin cancer."

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A post shared by Spencer Tunick (@spencertunick)

Prior to this event, Tunick has organized around 100 mass nude photo shoots around the world, with some getting him arrested after city officials intervened in the massive strip-off.