Thousands of people have taken off their clothes to pose for US photographic artist Spencer Tunick at Sydney's Bondi Beach in an effort to raise awareness about skin cancer.
Tunick, known for staging mass nude photo shoots at world landmarks, used a megaphone to direct attendees into several poses on the beach before many took a dip in the ocean.
The New York-based artist collaborated with a charity on the naked art installation in a bid to raise awareness about melanoma, Australia's fourth most common form of cancer.
The federal government estimates that this year 17,756 new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in Australia, and 1281 Australians will die from the disease.
"We have an opportunity to raise awareness about skin checks and I'm honoured ... to come here, make my art and just celebrate the body and protection," Tunick said at the beach on a crisp spring morning in Sydney.
"I was secretly terrified (and) last night I have to confess I was thinking, 'What have I done?' But it was great, everyone was a really good vibe, everyone was really respectful and it just felt really fun," she told Reuters.
Tunick last directed a mass shoot in Sydney in 2010, when 5200 Australians posed naked at the Sydney Opera House.
