Introduction to staged photography
Staged photography is a type of photography where everything has been setup according to the theme of the Photo shoot. Most of the fashion photo shoots are an example of staged photography. Models wear dresses depending on the theme of the shoot, props related to the theme are in the shoot, the background is also a part of the theme and everything on the set or studio is staged according to the theme.
There are most probably two types of staged photography. One is to use props, backdrops, lights, model in a studio to take a staged photo of a scene. Another one can be a photo taken on a location where you can stage your model or character in the way you want and use necessary equipment's and props to create a movie like scene or stage it to capture a staged photography.
Daisy, D. (2020). What is staged photography? Are there different types of staged photography? - Quora. Retrieved 22 July 2020, from https://www.quora.com/What-is-staged-photography-Are-there-different-types-of-staged-photography
Task: Looking at different photographers suggestions include – Gregory Crewdson and Thomas Fredrick Schafer. Choose two images from different photographers and complete a Feldman Analysis (DAIJ) for each.
Image 1: Thomas Friedrich Schaefer
Thomas Friedrich Schaefer the opportunity to observe different social and familial environments within distinct communities. Since moving back to Germany, he has tried to assess his memories and his past within his images. Thomas Friedrich Schaefer shoots scenes inspired by his childhood, in elaborate sets that he builds from scratch in his Berlin studio, this image is exhibited below.
Thomas Friedrich Schäfer | the PhotoPhore. (2018). Retrieved 22 July 2020, from http://www.thephotophore.com/thomas-friedrich-schafer/
Describe:
This image is set within a home environment, portraying perhaps a memory from Thomas's life. In the photograph, two human elements are position within two different sectors of the house. The male positioned in a room with artificial lighting expressing his dominance and a women in the kitchen with natural light (Assuming its night, there is a possibility the light source comes from street lights). the scene captures a stereotypical house environment using kitchen and dining room elements to position the viewers within that environment.
Analyse:
This scene captures movement in terms of directing the viewers form the kitchen to the dining room using human elements as focal points. The kitchen appears messy, capturing all elements that would generally be exhibited within a kitchen to create a scene the viewers can relate to. The artificial and natural light sources divide the two rooms for greater dynamic effect within the image. This forms the darker and lighter tones that captures the viewers eyes through the colour contrasting.
Interpret:
Assuming Thomas is a middle aged man, the human elements within the scene resemble a stereotypical household within the 19th century, having males as the dominant sex and females as members of the house who cook and clean. My interpretation of this image resembles the inequality barriers between males and females that were commonly present during his time period as a child. This setting is captured for the viewers to connect or relate to through the environments objects, positioning, structure, ect...
Judge:
I like how the scene is positioned. The negative space stimulates a calm and relaxed emotion where the viewers can position themselves in the setting and imagine how they would react. The two different lighting elements are effective in terms of complementing each feature alongside contrasting against each other for a greater effect. Overall I personally believe that Thomas has successfully produced a setting that was engaging to the human eye and captures an effective scene of a stereotypical household environment.
Image 2: Gregory Crewdson
Gregory Crewdson is an American photographer best known for staging cinematic scenes of suburbia to dramatic effect. His surreal images are often melancholic, offering ambiguous narrative suggestions and blurring the boundaries between fiction and reality.
Gregory Crewdson | artnet. (2020). Retrieved 23 July 2020, from http://www.artnet.com/artists/gregory-crewdson/
Describe:
This scene is positioned in an outdoor environment using different elements that the viewers are familiar with to capture and stimulate different reactions. The positioning of elements however are different to what is considered normal in everyday life. The tree stands in an unfamiliar form as it represents more of an archway than one that humans drive past each day (it looks staged). The car is parked on a diagonal angle which indicates that perhaps she has hit or saw something and she has gone to investigate. Another focal point exhibited is the house, as it attracts the viewers eye through the artificial lighting and contains an interesting yet engaging shape and structure.
Analyse:
A car door is left open and the boot of the car is directed at the camera suggesting that the human element has just left the car. Being positioned on a diagonal angle perhaps means she has saw something or hit something and has gone to further investigate. The cracks on the road and the shape of the house may represent that the scene is placed within an olden environment as a modernistic environment would involve renderd houses and fixed roads. The street is empty (as no other car or human elements seem to be positioned within the area) which sets the scene with a more darker or Horror vibe.
Interperate:
This images sets a scene of either a stereotypical horror or romance movie. Generally in these scenes a twist occurs being a death, or a symbol for the ending. Gregory Crewdson captures all aspects of the area to set the scene for an empty street stimulating a horror vibe. An individual person is used within the scene to draw the viewers attention towards their own perceptions on may have occured and what will occur next.
Judge:
I really like the positioning of each element in this image. Many features are unfamiliar to the human eye yet provide enough insight for the viewer to interperate what is happening or what is going to happen. The lighting elements form colour contrasting that enhance the dynamic effect of the image. this is bennificial as it is more pleasing for the viewers to explore. Different elements within the scene such as the house and the car are very effective in terms of telling a story as well as the incorporation of a human element wearing colours that do contrast against such a dark environment. Overall I think this image was an effective staged photograph.
