Playboy model’s nude shoot on sacred mountain angers Maori (NSFW)
May 3, 2017
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Share:
Finding good locations for photo shoots can be challenging, especially if it’s a nude shoot. You need to avoid the touristy spots, the families and dog walkers. You want to find somewhere new, and different. And what’s more different than a mountaintop overlooking the clouds?
For Playboy model Jaylene Cook that mountaintop was the perfect location to grab some quick nudes for her Instagram. The mountain in question is Mount Taranki in New Zealand. The BBC report that the local Maori aren’t too happy about it, either. They say that the photo is “culturally utterly insensitive”. The top of the volcano is sacred to the Maori.
A spokesman for the local Maori tribe told the BBC “It’s like someone went into St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and took a nude photo”. He went on to say that “It’s a sacred place and something like this is just very inappropriate.”
Ms Cook, also from New Zealand, climbed the mountain a few days ago with her partner. She posted the photograph to Instagram where it has almost 10,000 likes and over 450 comments. Although, some of those comments are criticisms.
The BBC also spoke with the mayor of the local Stratford district, Neil Volzke, who agreed that it was culturally insensitive.
I don’t think the picture itself is offensive or obscene – it is just inappropriate to take on top of Mount Taranaki because it is a place with great deal of importance for the Maori community
– Neil Volzke, Stratford district mayor
The attitudes towards Mount Taranaki have changed over the years. Traditionally, even climbing to its peak was considered inappropriate and only rarely done purely for ceremonial purposes. Today they accept that tourists want to climb the volcano. They just want people to be respectful.
Ms Cook attempted to defend herself after the photo began receiving criticism. She says that she did research beforehand and didn’t think that making the photograph would be offensive. I don’t know how much research she did, but 5 seconds on Google brought this article up for me. It’s not really all that difficult to figure out.
I understand wanting to do something like this somewhere new or different. I really do. I’ve shot nudes on location plenty of times, and I’m always looking for new spots. Something a little different. But you have to respect the local people, their rules and their beliefs. There’s plenty of places I’ve had the chance to shoot at that I declined simply because I knew it would be wrong.
Whether or not Ms Cook or her boyfriend did indeed know that it would be seen as disrespectful and went ahead anyway… Well, I’ll let you decide for yourselves. Personally, though, while there may be nothing graphic or obscene about the image itself, I wouldn’t have shot it.
[via BBC]
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Join the Discussion
DIYP Comment Policy
Be nice, be on-topic, no personal information or flames.
29 responses to “Playboy model’s nude shoot on sacred mountain angers Maori (NSFW)”
Thank You!
these nonsense ppl, they do it everywhere, should go do it in front of Buckingham Palace
http://images.dailystar.co.uk/dynamic/1/photos/376000/620x/5505b535d22d0_Rex_Heidi_Klum_Intima24W1O.jpg
I disagree. The St Peter basilic example is not valid since it’s a private place that belongs to the Catholic Church. As far as I know, Maori people don’t own Mount Taranaki, so why should they determine what is culturally wrong? Why anyone’s religion or beliefs have to be ‘respected’ if I am not a believer? What if a religion doesn’t allow any kind of photography… Do I have to follow their principles in a public space?
Amen!
If it’s not such a big deal then why is the picture blurred?
Enough said. It’s disrespectful and culturally insensitive.
It’s blurred because censorship… Has nothing to do with respect or cultural insensitivity. The blurring of the photo has to do with how certain articles online are published…
Btw, if you scroll down in the actual article, the photo isn’t blurred.
I would agree Russ – but the opposite position: the Maori are disrespectful and culturally insensitive to the model and photographer’s right to expression. Why should it be the Maori position is considered more important than theirs? They have no moral superiority here.
Not disrespectful. It’s a mountain. Get over it.
and get naked
I disagree with people who want to reduce others freedom in the name of their owm beliefs.
What about the freedom to have a sacred space? Would you reduce that freedom in the name of your belief?
I’m expecting to see this bootyful woman photoshopped into a lot of other places. She’s going to be a meme.
Come to Hawaii. I’m ok with this…
It’s pretty clear that common decency and respect isn’t that common these days. Just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should.
This place is sacred to the Maori people.
And any decent human being would respect that
Using ‘sacred’ as a standard would eliminate >80% of locations, as most places can be labeled as sacred to someone.
I don’t see the photo as offensive. Some may. Quite frankly we’re putting too much weight on how much some people take offense. Why, I find it offensive.
And any decent human being would say they need to respect their position is not held by all. The photographer and model need to be respected just as much. It’s a tie. Neither has a ‘moral superiority’ here.
Oh please ?.
The photographer and the model should respect the connection of the Maori people to the land.
Her need to get her gear off and the photographers want to photograph it is not more important than respecting a sacred site.
Bullshit. What does “sacred” even means?
They liked it a lot way before we did.
It means it’s a place they go to be closer to their ancestors and/or deities/gods.
Do I seriously have to baby you? You couldn’t research that for yourself?
Well, it was kind of a rhetorical question… went over your head. What I mean is that their ancestors and gods are not in that mountain, they should grow up, be adults and stop complaining about these stupid things.
If you search enough, you will find someone who holds EVERY PLACE ON EARTH as sacred. Most any place that gets photographed could be criticised.
This is a tough one. It’s actually a nice picture and I’m not saying it just because she is nude. She is not doing something overtly sexual or making a disrespectful pose. As far as I can tell she is not in front of a crowd. Of course we want to be sensitive to how other people may feel about it. Still I am going to have to side with the model on this one.
Seems like no one wants to apologize, just want others to get over it, it’s happening.
As non-religious person I see no problem here (naked body is the most natural thing)… BUT if the model is a part of community considering the shooting-site sacred, there may be complications (breaking SOCIAL taboos and agreements)… RESPECT- yeah that’s one big SUBJECTIVENESS.
Whether it’s right or wrong… Not for me to say. But why the hell is she naked on top of a mountain?
Because the sun is shining …