Depiction of photographers in movies/TV

Daniela · Jun 8, 2020

I was watching "Blood diamonds" the other day and once again cringed at a scene we have seen a million times: shots of the photographer (a journalist, in this case) clicking away from the same spot intertwined with the usual shots of two or three NG-like photographs. This reminded me of other usual clichés: the photographer as a mere button-presser; the photographer using photography as an excuse to pick up women or save the world; photography mostly depicted as photojournalism; and all that hot darkroom sex!
So, I wonder if there are any films that depict photography as an artistic process, with all that comes along with that. Of course, I'm talking about fiction, but recommendations for documentaries would also be appreciated.

Jesper · Jun 8, 2020

Blow-up comes to mind. Not that it is without clichés but it is a good film.

removed account4 · Jun 8, 2020

peeping tom is pretty good, but he's a FILM maker not a photographer.. and public eye...

Dali · Jun 8, 2020

Midnight Meat Train. Not for everyone though...

AgX · Jun 8, 2020

In case you understand German: "Verblendet"
A (full-feature) episode of an east-german crime series from the 80's. In this episode the relational troubles of an odd photographers couple based on their different biographies are depicted. Their photo business is the hub around which those issues evolve. And the darkroom comes up even at the crucial part. Slow, but more to reality than "Blow UP"...

grain elevator · Jun 8, 2020

In a lot of recent films, it seems to me that photographers are quite often creeps and criminals, rarely a positive depiction. Sorry I can't recall any titles right now.
On a not very closely related note, the Netflix set designers are into black and white photography big time. Almost every home in more or less recent productions has lots of nice prints on the walls!

DonJ · Jun 8, 2020

Daniela said:
I was watching "Blood diamonds" the other day and once again cringed at a scene we have seen a million times: shots of the photographer (a journalist, in this case) clicking away from the same spot intertwined with the usual shots of two or three NG-like photographs. This reminded me of other usual clichés: the photographer as a mere button-presser; the photographer using photography as an excuse to pick up women or save the world; photography mostly depicted as photojournalism; and all that hot darkroom sex!
So, I wonder if there are any films that depict photography as an artistic process, with all that comes along with that. Of course, I'm talking about fiction, but recommendations for documentaries would also be appreciated.

I've always liked how the film "Gandhi" depicted the relationship between Margaret Bourke-White and her subject. Se was a photojournalist, but it showed her interacting with and getting to know the person she was photographing. Sorry, no darkroom scenes.

Pieter12 · Jun 8, 2020

Funny Face, Anthony Armstrong Jones in The Crown (although it does have him smoking in the darkroom), Killing Fields, Rear Window.

seall · Jun 8, 2020

I think when it comes to the subject of depiction "The Bang-Bang Club" is a very important film to watch and understand.

foc · Jun 8, 2020

The Bridges Of Madison County, with Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood ? ? ?

mcfitz · Jun 8, 2020

Smoke, Wayne Wang

"The film follows the lives of multiple characters, all of whom are connected via their patronage of a small Brooklyn tobacconist store managed by Auggie (Harvey Keitel). Brooklyn Cigar Co. was located on the corner of 16th Street and Prospect Park West.

Auggie takes a photograph of the store from across the street at 8:30am every morning. A recently-widowed writer Paul Benjamin (William Hurt) sees his wife in one of the pictures, and breaks down. Later, he is saved from being run down by a truck by a young black man named Rashid (Harold Perrineau Jr.), whom he invites to stay in his apartment."

removed account4 · Jun 8, 2020

mcfitz said:
Smoke, Wayne Wang

"The film follows the lives of multiple characters, all of whom are connected via their patronage of a small Brooklyn tobacconist store managed by Auggie (Harvey Keitel). Brooklyn Cigar Co. was located on the corner of 16th Street and Prospect Park West.

Auggie takes a photograph of the store from across the street at 8:30am every morning. A recently-widowed writer Paul Benjamin (William Hurt) sees his wife in one of the pictures, and breaks down. Later, he is saved from being run down by a truck by a young black man named Rashid (Harold Perrineau Jr.), whom he invites to stay in his apartment."

THANK YOU ! great movie !!!

ic-racer · Jun 8, 2020

Not mentioned yet.

"Pecker"
"Fur"
"Johnny Skidmarks (1998)"

Many 'Nam movies have photographers. Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket, probably many others. Photographers in 'Nam movies could be a whole thread in itself.

Near the end of "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" there is a good depiction of a photographer. Even shots of of his ground glass and re-creations of actual photographs taken at the scene.

Pieter12 · Jun 8, 2020

As much as I like Dianne Arbus' work, I couldn't finish watching watch Fur. The movie made a mess of the whole thing.

mcfitz · Jun 9, 2020

From the Office National du Film Canada, in French, J. A. Martin photographe

and in English J.A. Martin Photographer

"Long métrage de fiction racontant l'histoire d'un photographe qui part seul chaque été sillonner le Québec du début du 20e siècle pour prendre et vendre des photos. Après quinze années de mariage, il (Marcel Sabourin) amènera sa femme (Monique Mercure). Ce sera l'occasion pour eux de se redécouvrir et de découvrir les autres."

"Feature film telling the story of an itinerant photographer in early 20th century Québec who leaves his family each summer to travel the province, taking and selling his photos. After fifteen years of marriage his wife goes along with him, leading them to rediscover themselves and others."

Excellent movie, period piece with large format photography.

Daniela · Jun 9, 2020

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!
I haven't seen any of the movies recommended, so off I go to search!

Willy T · Jun 9, 2020

Under Fire, 1983. Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman, Joanna Cassidy, Ed Harris.
Some F2 zen.

AgX · Jun 9, 2020

Daniela, if you are willing to pull your handkerchiefs at the end of this movie...
"Pisi Pisi" (1975)
A bohemian freelance photographer falls in love with a girl from an established family... Think of "Love Story", but then with a lot of SLR sporting. And the better main-song...

AgX · Jun 9, 2020

The worst of the photographer-related movies I watched is:
"Princess" (1969)
A flemish attempt to cash-in on the success of "Blow-Up". Indescribable...
However a must for any Linhof afficionado. And partially filmed next to the Agfa plant, if that matters...

Louis Nargi · Jun 9, 2020

The Public Eye with Joe Pesci. Joe Pesci is a brash 1940's tabloid photographer There is a lot of WeeGee's photograph in the move.

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Jun 10, 2020

Yes! It has great depictions of the wet collodion process, and an actual story worth caring about. It's also very moody, and introspective.

If you read French, there is a novelization of the movie written by poet Hélène Ouvrard that's worth checking.

mcfitz said:
From the Office National du Film Canada, in French, J. A. Martin photographe

and in English J.A. Martin Photographer

"Long métrage de fiction racontant l'histoire d'un photographe qui part seul chaque été sillonner le Québec du début du 20e siècle pour prendre et vendre des photos. Après quinze années de mariage, il (Marcel Sabourin) amènera sa femme (Monique Mercure). Ce sera l'occasion pour eux de se redécouvrir et de découvrir les autres."

"Feature film telling the story of an itinerant photographer in early 20th century Québec who leaves his family each summer to travel the province, taking and selling his photos. After fifteen years of marriage his wife goes along with him, leading them to rediscover themselves and others."

Excellent movie, period piece with large format photography.

mcfitz · Jun 10, 2020

Michel Hardy-Vallée said:
Yes! It has great depictions of the wet collodion process, and an actual story worth caring about. It's also very moody, and introspective.

If you read French, there is a novelization of the movie written by poet Hélène Ouvrard that's worth checking.

Merci, thank you. I've started looking for a copy of this book, it might be difficult to find. From what I can tell, the original publication contained eight serigraphs, missing in the only example found at ABE for the modest sum of 191.84$ plus shipping to France. It looks like an extraordinary item, and the missing serigraphs would almost have made it worth the price.

It was republished in 1999, I'll try and track down a copy of that.

removed account4 · Jun 10, 2020

Daniela said:
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!
I haven't seen any of the movies recommended, so off I go to search!

I forgot to add
photographing fairies.. just to warn. there is some "1910-photoshop" work in there !

Saganich · Jun 10, 2020

Weegie and Bettie Page with the NY Photo club at Headly Farm. Some interesting scenes from "Bettie Page Reveals All"

Sirius Glass · Jun 10, 2020

Over the years I learned from television and the movies that all photographers are perverts and almost always the one guilty of the crime case being the subject of the show. Based on this I avoid any contact with photographers including myself and especially on websites such as this one.

Depiction of photographers in movies/TV

Membership Council

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency