Jeff Wall

  

  

Jeff Wall

There are some aspects of Jeff Wall’s work that I do really like, yet there are other aspects that i’m not too fond of. I feel that his photos are very hit or miss, a lot of them are quite plain and don’t make me engage with them. I feel a good photo makes you want to look at it again, I feel his photos are forgettable, there isn’t any real draw to them. I feel his photos are definitely lacking narrative, there isn’t anywhere near as much of a story compared to Crewdson’s work. Once you realise that his photos, like Crewdson’s are all created and everyone in the photo is an actor playing a part it does change your opinion on the photos. For me this does add some interest, what I then find interesting is the fact that these photo’s don't look false, Wall has set out to make these photos seem as real as possible. When you compare how both Jeff Wall and Gregory Crewdson create scenes there is huge differences. Wall has set out to create staged photos but make them look as natural as possible, whereas Crewdson’s work is much more cinematic and obviously false. Wall doesn’t use false lighting anywhere near the extent Crewdson does, his photos are much more realistic visually, yet I feel there is a lot of atmosphere lacking that he could have enhanced or even created with some lighting. 

What I do really like about Jeff Wall’s work is the fact you don’t question its authenticity, you just accept it as real. I do like this aspect but I feel it could easily work against you, it almost makes his photos seem dull and Vernacular. I want to create a body of work that does play with this notion of falseness, however I’d like to find a mid point between Crewdson and Wall, not so real people don’t question it, but not too obvious it’s not questioned as being real. Both artists have a great style of working yet I feel there is some connection lost between them and the audience.