Depiction of photographers in movies/TV

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

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.

I was able to find a copy of the reprint a few months ago through ABE, so there might be other copies lurking around.

 

[AgX]

Which of the fictional films on photographers did you find realistic ?



For myself ad-hoc only one comes to my mid, the one I hinted at in post #5.

 

[removed account4]

“The Animal”’ in Lou Grant and the bachelor buddy of Bill Bixbey in The Courtshipof Eddie’s Father we’re both photographers, the animal was a news shooter, I don't remember much about Bill's Buddy other than when Eddie went to his house overnight he showed him what photography was all about, and they ate dinner over the kitchen sink so they didn't have to do any dishes afterwards. Both photographers were depicted as regular people..

 

[jtk]

Most art photographers are women, virtually all photojournalists shoot digital, weddings and food are digital.
And I never knew a professional photographer who wasn't into sex....in early careers anyway.

 

[Colin Corneau]

"Monk With A Camera" is a documentary I've been meaning to watch. The life of Nicholas Vreeland is really quite extraordinary and his photography is beautiful.

 

[AgX]

Daniela, as you started this thread and as you hinted at a bad depiction of photgraphers in movies:

Have you watched a ficticious movie where a photographer is depicted realistically?

 

[Colin Corneau]

I once worked as an extra on a movie set ("JT" with Kirsten Dunst, actually) and amusingly got a part as a photographer in the background during a scrum/event.

The prop people simply had a bunch of junk parts in a bin they handed out to extras - photography was an afterthought, at least according to accuracy. And that's fine, it's a huge production and they have a million other things to consider than accuracy of photographer depictions...simply holding it in the right direction was enough. That may factor into how photogs are portrayed in many movies.

 

[cowanw]

1. The Man who Shot Tutankhamun about Harry Burton
2. Eddie Albert in Roman Holiday
3. "The Dark Valley". An Austrian-German Western film set in the Alps and includes some good scenes of the daguerreotype process.

 

[Pieter12]

Another thread reminded me of the bio-pic, The Eloquent Nude: The Life and Love of Edward Weston and Charis Wilson. I believe it's a pretty accurate portrayal of Weston, at least from Charis Wilson's point of view.

 

[ColdEye]

How about the Bang Bang Club?

 

[Willy T]

How about the Bang Bang Club?

Earlier post (#9) got no direct responses to this true-ish film

In the same vein, Oliver Stone's 1986 Salvador with James Woods, Jim Belushi, and John Savage, based on his friend Richard Boyle covering the civil war in El Salvador. One man's more-or-less actual story here, thematically akin to Under Fire (1983) set in Nicaragua, and The Bang Bang Club a quarter century later: populist uprisings against repressive governments.

 

[reddesert]

One of the main characters in Mike Leigh's film Secrets and Lies (1996) (don't confuse it with a newer TV series with the same name) is a portrait photographer. He runs a photo studio of the type that takes family pictures, not high end arty shots. There are some extended scenes where you get to see him working, and understand that he is good at what he does because of his rapport with the clients. The photography is not at all the center of the movie (the impulse driving the plot is something else entirely), but it serves to establish his character. It's a very good movie. You wouldn't watch it for the photography angle alone, but it's interesting to see this aspect of the business represented.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117589/
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/secrets-and-lies-1996-1

 

[Daniela]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I haven't commented on any of them because it's been impossible for me to find those movies online *for free*, or on Netflix. I found "Peeping Tom" on Youtube, but it was removed when I was about halfway through LOL

Daniela, as you started this thread and as you hinted at a bad depiction of photgraphers in movies:

Have you watched a ficticious movie where a photographer is depicted realistically?

I thought about this when I originally posted the topic, but couldn't really think of any...I prefer documentaries/documentary-type for this reason, where we can really hear the artist's thoughts or learn about their process, for example:

 

[Daniela]

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

Finally finished seeing it. In terms of depiction of a man behind the camera, it doesn't do much to counter stereotypes LOL Still, good movie!

 

[jtk]

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

It's still the most realistic...best depiction of the kind of studio and darkroom...and relations with women that many, many photographers have had...or aspired to for a generation. Was motivational, too.

 

[grahamp]

The Eyes of Laura Mars always interested me. Not so much because of the portrayal of photography (the pictures are by Rebecca Blake) but more for how the interpretation of the viewer can differ from that of the artist. Lots of dramatic license, naturally.

I don't think I have ever seen a film or documentary about some form of artist without a heavy dose of angst, though.

 

[AgX]

["Blow Up"] is still the most realistic...best depiction of the kind of studio and darkroom...and relations with women that many, many photographers have had...or aspired to for a generation. Was motivational, too.

Depends on what you consider realistic.
Maybe there were/are such photographers. I did not not yet met one.

Or, what share do these have at "the photographers"? And the latter is what to my understanding this thread is about.
That is why I chose as realistic a complete different film.

 

[Pieter12]

Depends on what you consider realistic.
Maybe there were/are such photographers. I did not not yet met one.

Or, what share do these have at "the photographers"? And the latter is what to my understanding this thread is about.
That is why I chose as realistic a complete different film.

It was (maybe still is) realistic concerning a certain type of fashion photographer. There are quite few that were known for their relationships with models, lifestyle etc. Probably none of them helped solve a crime though. Unless you count Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window.

 

[MattKing]

Probably none of them helped solve a crime though

What about "Blow Up"?

 

[Pieter12]

What about "Blow Up"?

That's what I was referring to. Sorry if it wasn't clear.

 

[MattKing]

I was thinking that "Blow Up" was about solving a crime!

 

[Pieter12]

It is about solving a crime as far as I recall. Besides the womanizing of course. Rear Window is also about a crime that is solved by a photographer and his girl friend, no womanizing beyond maybe 50's stereotypes.

 

[jamesaz]

Mid-80’s “No Small Affair” Jon Cryer as underage photographer falls for singer Demi Moore. Teen angst mostly from him and a decent cover of “My Funny Valentine” . Photography used primarily as a setup device to get the story (such as it is) started. I give it two f/stops.

 

[Daniela]

Mid-80’s “No Small Affair” Jon Cryer as underage photographer falls for singer Demi Moore. Teen angst mostly from him and a decent cover of “My Funny Valentine” . Photography used primarily as a setup device to get the story (such as it is) started. I give it two f/stops.

two f/stops out of how many?!

 

[Wallendo]

I enjoyed the photographer in the original The Omen. As a result of this movie, I now blame all my light leaks on Satan.

I just wish I could take those great photos in dark environments with hand-held super-telephoto lenses like the Private Eyes in the movies.