Jeff Wall, Dead Troops Talk, 1992
We’ve reached the end of the semester and you’ve probably noticed the issue of staged photographs persists from the 19th century till now. Jeff Wall’s large-scale photographs exemplify the use of staged photography in contemporary art. Watch a short interview with Wall about his approach to photography and read an article in Time Magazine on staging in contemporary photographic practices. Please share your opinions on these types of photographs and the continuance of manipulated photographs in our time.
Video: Jeff Wall on Staged Photography
Time Magazine article, “Photography: If You Build It They Will Come”
Please post your responses by Thursday, December 15th.
Wow, just when i thought staged photographs were blatant and theatrical. There’s a deeper meaning to these photographs as pointed out by Jeff Wall. In our time, this is a method that is highly used and successful. I am personally a fan of staged photos more than still life photographs. It requires much more imagination and creativity to create the perfect stage for a photograph. Also, directing is more or less the same way. In order to begin directing a movie, some sort of theme or idea must be thought of. This definitely opened my eyes more to the intricacy of staged photography.
I agree with rfrancois that staged photos require more imagination and creativity than the simple photographs. The photographer in this case is not just the photographer, but also the director, he don’t wait for moment to catch but, he creates this moment, stages it, collaborates with people. He work with person and object, together they create a situation and make it look like real. It is like in cinematography, everybody can make a video, but not everybody can create a movie with actors and decorations. So I like the photos of Jeff Wall and I’m not against of staged photos, they also can be the part of art of photography.
I also believed that staged photography was really obvious and simple to do, but after seeing the video and reading the article I saw staged photography in a different way. I think staged photography can be considered a type of art because photographers have to create their photograph rather than just capturing a photo at a especific time. I like Jeff Wall staged photographs because he directs every detail to captures a real image. He plans everything from the way he is going to capture it to how the outcome is going to be. I think staged photography is more exciting to see than normal life photography because it involves more creativity and originality. I also like Jeff Wall photographs because he captures the images in a way that you are left wondering whether the photograph is really staged or not.
I agree that we can’t just assume that staged photography is easy and anyone can do it. Well anyone can do it but not everyone can do it good. Yes, Wall’s photographs do look “real” and kinda make you wonder if it is staged or not. Then again I look at photography as an opportunity to catch a moment in real life and make it live forever. That is why I love street photography, because you can really see split seconds of real life captured on film, then the more you look at it the more details you discover, many things that you wouldn’t even notice if you have not taken the photo.
I can see staged photographs as an art form taking a lot of time and a lot of creativity, as a way to do some good, point out to social issues, raise awareness… but then again I think that “not staged” photography can do all that even better and stronger.
I understand the preciousness of capturing a specific moment on the street. And how exciting the experience is when you are reviewing the pictures and discover more details that you were not paid attention to when you took them. Even though, I agree that “not staged” photography can make it better and stronger when it comes to pointing out a social issues and raise awareness, staged photography is a different approach to tell the story. Plus, staged photography not only point out the social issues, it even makes it more interesting and capture the audiences eyes more easily. Also, not everything could be told by “not staged” photography, or there might not be photographers who could capture a specific moment, so staged photography is needed.
i agree with some of the comment’s here that staged photography requires more creativity and imagination but i still like still life photography better i think it’s more deep and special and worth a lot more. Theres nothing better than images of real life people doing real life things or going through real life things. Staged photography is definitely more artistic than still life, it takes a lot more time and thought process to set up the image you want to take. Its definitely a lot easier to stage a photo a get what you want than to wait for the perfect timing to press the shutter button to get that perfect image you want.
After reading the article and watching the video, my perception towards staged photography changed. Sure, it is easy to deceive your audience whether the image is real or staged but with each taken, there is an underlying message. As was said before, staged photography takes a lot of effort since the photographer recreates/creates his/her vision. This time around, he/she gets the chance to alter the light, and even the object itself. Staged photography shows us that it is also time consuming because it is up to the photographer when and how he/she will capture the right image.
I understand that staged photography might seem easier to do in compared with straight photography, because photographers do not have to wait for the decisive moment to happen, and for staged photography, photographers can just take whatever has been setting up for the shoot. However, I think staged photography requires a lot more work than straight photography. Staged photographers do not just stand there and wait for whatever is going to happen, or walk around to look for something interesting. Staged photographers have to actually spend time and effort to set up the whole scene, and communicate with the people who are being photographed. Not only the creativity and the sense of making an art piece to point out some issues or raise awareness, communication skills are essential for staged photographers. If the photographers couldn’t communicate well with the ones who are being photographed, the photographs fail too.
I respect Jeff Wall, it takes a lot of work to produce his images. I think it can be challenging to create such a stage but at the same time you have so much control over the entire production that I’m not very impressed. I like elaborate sets such as Dave LaChapelle’s sets but I personally enjoy more trying to figure out the meaning behind his images than the visuals. With a budget you can hire good producers, models, stage designers, director of photography, post production geeks etc.
I completely see staged photography with a different mindset now. In the beginning when I started this course, I found stage photography as a leeway for them to get some sort of recognition so that they too can become famous like the straight photographers but now that I see how much hard work and effort is put into it I considered it as art as well. Stage photographers have to used more of their creativity in order to set up that “precise moment” that straight photographers so anxiously wait for. Stage photographers manipulate and create reality according to their imagination. So unlike straight photographers, staged photographers don’t wait for that “precise moment” they make it happen.
I must say after watching the interview and reading the articles along with everyone’s comment, i really believe that there is no other true talent that being able to capture a GREAT photo without having to stage it.Yes staging photos can be fun,creative and gives you a challenge, but so does upstaged photos.I think the art of just being able to look at something that maybe someone like me or another photographer would not even glimpse at; is true talent within their eyes.Staged photos are a fun way to “try” and show something that every other photographers is.Simply capturing a moment that comes out nothing but amazing is what i consider true talent.