Gregory Crewdson

During our photography week we were shown a massive selection of different photographers each with their own unique styles and influences. One of these photographers that I particularly liked and decided to do some further research into is american photographer, Gregory Crewdson. 

Crewdson is known for his staged scene and landscape photography which share a small story which is open for a lot of interpretation. This helps to establish a bond with the viewer and allow them to make up their own mind about the piece instead of forcing the perception of the photographer. 

The thing that attracted me to Crewdson's work was the fantasy sort of style he gave every photo. The pictures look like concept art and paintings rather than photos, almost looking too nice to be realistic. It feels as a viewer that we have been lost in a completely unique and beautiful world which is in fact our back garden reshaped and presented in a way we mostly never see. 

It is obvious that that crewdson shoots with long shutter speeds because of the way light is captured in his photos, and the flat focus. All of the photos show the entire shot in focus allowing the viewer to explore the photograph which hints at using a long shutter speed. Secondly the way that light rays and trails are captured in some of the photos which is extremely difficult without using a long exposure. 

He has shot many different scenes all seem to based in the late 1900's style of american, in showing fashion and the landmarks in the photos. All have at least one character involved in sort of posy body stance to give some sort of indication to the atmosphere. The way the weather and choice of scenery has also been manipulated to show this as well. 

My favourite photo that I have seen by Crewdson is the one below of a man walking a baby stroller down the centre of a neighbourhood street as the sun is breaking dawn. This photo is such an elegant piece of work. It is open to debate what is the focus of the piece as the man is in fact so small in comparison to the frame, despite being centred. We get a rough clash of dirt and mud in the bottom left corner to the freshly cut green lawn next to it showing the different lives people can live yet right next to each other. The mood of the photo overall appears extremely cinematic and surreal, the bouncing of the light and the quality of the photograph.