16 Female Orgasms, Like You’ve Never Seen Them Before

"The world of orgasm is physical, but it is also a world of fantasy, culture, history — and very much a world of the soul," photographer Linda Troeller and writer Marion Schneider write in their book Orgasm: Photographs & Interviews. Troeller and Schneider collaborated on Orgasm to explore that world, inviting 25 women — nine German, six American, three Dutch, three Israeli, two Colombian, one French, and one Portuguese — to share their personal relationships with orgasm.

In the book, the women reveal their first memories of experiencing orgasm and the fantasies they have around the event. They also reveal their orgasmic feelings to the camera, showing with their bodies and faces what orgasm means to them. "The chance to be in an intimate situation with a female photographer and a female writer offered safety and security for the interviewers," Troeller and Schneider write, "enhancing the probability that their statements would be a genuine and authentic revelation."

Indeed, the stories and images in Orgasm are as intimate and honest as any coverage of female climax we've seen. Ahead are photographs of 16 of the women featured in the book. Many participated in selecting and editing their own photos, ensuring that Orgasm captures the moments of ecstasy as faithfully as possible. The end result is a joyful, raw celebration of female pleasure.