Naked Odyssey 1996-2005

My ‘Naked Odyssey‘ project, making impromptu naked photography a part of all my world travels, started in 2016. During the 20 years before this, there had sometimes been nakedness on my travels, and sometimes it was photographed, but only casually. A few photos from that era are shared below… just for fun.

All images on this page were scanned from old water-damaged prints and digitally repaired where possible.

It started with naturism. I’ve never considered myself a naturist but every odyssey must start somewhere. In the UK it started at Long Rock beach in Kent before progressing to Studland beach, Dorset. Then the big one: an entire week without a stitch of clothing at Cap d’Agde naturist village (the “Naked City”) in France.

Cap d’Agde naturist village, France – location map.

Cap d’Agde naturist village, France – location map.

Cap d’Agde naturist village, France – location map.

Cap d’Agde naturist village, France – location map.

The vast dunescape of Parque Natural de Corralejo on Fuerteventura was where I learned the world has room enough for us to find our naked spaces and naked identities without conforming to the restrictions and labels of others. All one needs is social sensitivity, relaxed consensus… and lots of sun cream.

Parque Natural de Corralejo, Fuerteventura – location map.

Parque Natural de Corralejo, Fuerteventura – location map.

Parque Natural de Corralejo, Fuerteventura – location map.

No naturism in India. I kept my boxers on when spontaneously leaping into the sea at the southernmost tip, Kanyakumari. Nonetheless, scores of bewildered silent stares greeted me when I emerged. My nakedness was reserved for an Ayurvedic massage and the outdoor shower of my Isola di Cocco chalet in Poovar.

Isola di Cocco, Poovar, India – location map.

As at the Canary island of Fuerteventura, I found nakedness normalised on beaches all around the Balearic island of Formentera and its largest northern islet, S’Espalmador. It was well worth wading chin-deep from Formentera to S’Esplamdor to experience the latter’s unspoiled sands and glorious natural mud baths.

Platja de Llevant, Formentera – location map.

Platja de ses Illetes, Formentera – location map.

Punta des Borronar, Formentera – location map.

Platja de s’Alga, S’Espalmador – location map.

Platja de s’Alga, S’Espalmador – location map.

Llacuna d’Espalmador, S’Espalmador – location map.

Llacuna d’Espalmador, S’Espalmador – location map.

As dodgy as it looks, I’m not about molest this wild fallow deer on Badija island in the Korčula archipelago of Croatia. I’m simply hand-feeding it some pine kernels near to the island’s perimeter footpath on the north side, where it’s fine to be clothes-free. In the last hour before the last ferry, it became fine everywhere.

Badjia, Croatia – location map.