Last month, 2,500 people took off their clothes for photos on Australia’s Bondi Beach. The purpose of this event was to raise awareness of skin cancer.
The photographer was Spencer Tunick who is known for taking pictures of naked people in famous places.
Tunick says that he wants to help raise awareness of skin cancer and skin checks.
Robyn Lidner, one of the participants in the latest photo, said that she was nervous before the event. Afterwards, she said that it was really fun and everyone had a good time.
Tunick has already done three similar projects in Australia. In 2010, he gathered 5,500 people for a naked photo in front of Sydney’s Opera House.
Tunick partnered with Skin Check Champions, a charity that has free skin check clinics. The naked photo shoot took place during Australia’s National Skin Cancer Action Week.
Scott Maggs founded the charity in 2010 after his friend died of skin cancer. Important people from around the world support the charity, and Maggs hopes that Tunick’s photos will attract more attention.
Tunick has organized about 100 large, naked photo shoots around the world. In Mexico City, he had about 18,000 naked participants. Sometimes, city officials are not happy with the events, and Tunick was arrested more than once.
VOCABULARY
- Purpose – reason for doing something; motivation; plan
- Raise awareness – a process or action to inform/educate people about a topic or issue
- Cancer – a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body
- Photographer – a person who takes pictures, usually professionally
- Known for – to be famous or known about by a lot of people because of something
- Check – check-up; examination; analysis; test
- Participant – a person who participates or takes part in something; a person involved in an activity; a person who actively does something at an event
- Afterwards – at a later or future time; after that
- Partner – to join/work with another person or organization in a business activity
- Charity – an organization/group that gives money, food, or help to people who need it
- Clinic – a building or part of a hospital where people go for medical care or advice; a place where doctors work and help people
- Photo shoot – a photography session; an occasion or event when a person takes a lot of pictures of other people
- Take place – happen; occur;
- Founded – started; began; created
- Attract attention – To cause somebody to notice or become interested in someone or something; to be noticeable and interesting
- Official – a person who works for the government and has power or authority; officer; executive
- Arrest – to use the power of the law to take and/or hold someone; detain; apprehend
Original story from CNN below:
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