Following the Last Rivers Song and Secrets of the Forgotten Tapu, I became much more aware of the human scale in terms of vastness of the landscape. I began to understand the crucial link between the ephemeral nature of our physical existence and nature that we depend upon. How we relate the the alchemy of the four ancient symbolic elements - earth - air - water and fire.( This reference to alchemy surfaced much later in the Aporian Emulsions work, Photosynthesis and Hermetic ).

Initially this series of nudes developed on a visual level from a fairly standard series of portraits that I took of Alan Pearson in August 1986 - film 35 - 208. Pearson was working at the Art School and had asked me to do a series of images of him. Right - Alan Pearson - 1986 - film 35 - 208 - Lloyd Godman
This was followed with a film that I shot of my son Stefan, where abstract figures were even more present.
By Oct 1996 when I shot film 35 - 216 I was looking at the subject from a different perspective. Right - Stella Donna - Oct 1996 - film 35 - 216- Lloyd Godman
As I began to frame the subject closer and the light was more direct with harsh shadows - abstract patterns began to emerge that matched some of the images from the Last Rivers Song. The image had a fluidity that suggested moving water, the flicker of flame, the structure of clouds and form of the earth. The Last Rivers Song - Lloyd Godman 1994
From here I began to explore the work with more dedication. People were becoming aware of the work I was doing - the images were revealing aspects of their physical being they had never been aware of - and there were no shortage of willing sitters. Film 35 - 226

Body Symbols is a series of black & white photographs by Lloyd Godman exploring the visual relationship of the human body and the ancient organic elements - earth, air, fire and water.