A collection of images and poetry from the early work of photographer Gail Russell of Taos, New Mexico.

“From the beginning of time, I often imagined that most artists and later photographers, had somewhere, a stash of nudes. The exposed human form is too provocative and lyrical not to address visually in all its uncovered power and vulnerability. When I as a young person studying art, I was perplexed about the overwhelming quantity of female nudes versus males.

This both puzzled me and incited me at once, so when I first dove into photography I embarked on a project of nudes that naturally included males as well as females. I enlisted friends, lovers, students anyone that would be willing to be in my photographs.”

Spirit in Form includes 52 previously unpublished black and white, sepia toned and hand-colored images. spanning more than three decades, from 1968 to 2002. The photographs are of male and female nudes with a signature of sensual poems appearing in the center of the book.

Designed in a compact 8.5″ x 8.5” hard cover volume, this perfect “end table book” includes notes and experiences of the photographer.

This is a collector’s gem; the first in a series of volumes of the artist’s life with a camera.