Thursday 3/5 Entry

Real Life

Obviously, my current work questions the notions of real life in photography. In one sense, I am documenting a scene that is occurring. But in the truest sense, I am documenting a scene that has been planned to occur, one that has been set up. One main question that comes to mind is "Just how real can something be when its subjects are aware of the camera in front of them?" Theoretically, you're getting a true and authentic reaction, it is just of someone reacting to a camera being introduced into the scene. This question seeks its answer in many scenarios, including war/conflict photography, portraiture, and even reality TV.

Of course, my approach is a more obvious one. The subjects are fully aware of the camera and I think the viewer realizes it. What they don't immediately question is what they are seeing a reaction to. Is this how the subject subconsciously posed? Is this how they would act in such a situation? Is this just how they think the photographer or the viewer who envision them? Although it doesn't necessarily answer these questions, my work does pose them in an attempt to find answers.

*This photo was taken as a "Real World" promo by MTV*