Today I went to go and see the new Gregory Crewdson Cathedral of Pines at The Photographers Gallery exhibition.
The first thing that struck me was the lighting, the lighting was a masterclass, I spent ages on each image to see how it was lit.
Secondly the size of the prints were very consistent but also roughly the size of a picture window. Once I listened to the behind the scenes interview this is something Crewdson confirmed as well. They are of the size that feels like you are looking through a window into another world, into Becket Massachusetts where this series was shot.
There is a posing style that Crewdson use, and it's so distinct that as soon as you see an image you know it's one of his. I think it will be a very difficult pose to get, it needs to be lifeless, no performance, as still as the model can be.
The scale of the surroundings really makes these images. Crewdson would often shoot fairly wide to show off the sheer scale of the pines.
There is an overall sense of waiting for something to happen. In each of the images there are people waiting around.
In this series Crewdson uses mirrors frequently giving the viewer extra information of what is going on in the room, away from the view of the camera.
At first glance the images feel like large scale historic landscape paintings but with people in them.
My takeout of the day was that these are super simple, humble, normal households and Crewdson with the help of a large team, has changed those spaces into something totally different. Where before it was an old run down barn it was now a space with someone in it, telling a story and leaving the viewer with as many questions as answers.
Crewdson states in an interview that he sees himself as a story teller but he is very aware that unlike film (which his images looks like they've been lifted from) does not have a beginning or an ending. He can only tell the story with that one frame and there is a remarkable amount of story in each of the frames.
Overall a very enjoyable exhibition and one I would highly recommend.
References: The Photographers Gallery: Aug17