Alex Prager

Alex Prager is an American art photographer and film maker who lives and works in Los Angeles. Her photographs primarily use staged sets and models to create not only "film-like" images that are reminiscent of the history of Hollywood and the old school 'good life' but also the cinematic image in art contexts. The subjects of her works, exaggerated and costumed sometimes "hyper-real" speak to the ambiguity of seduction and spectacle.

I chose to study Alex Preger due to the way her photographs and collections tell a story by the use of exaggerated artistic looks. The looks that she creates on her subjects are not dissimilar to the pop art movement with their bold coloured clothing, makeup and hair. I love the sets she creates, she is a complete contrast from another photographer that I have studied; Garry Winogrand who photographs the natural behavior of humans. Alex Prager is completely different to him the way that she orchestrates all her shoots and photographs, everything is carefully planned including what the photograph will depict. I find Alex Prager's work appealing due to the pretense the viewer falls under, the sheer performance of the pieces enthralls me. I love the way her work is almost like staged street photography, many of the subjects tend not to look directly down the camera lens similar to most real street photography.

I think these photographs are brilliant art forms and very reminiscent of the pop art era created by artists. The formal elements used in Alex Prager's photograph is colour, form and movement. Colour is used to emphasize other areas of the photograph for example the subjects wear bright colours and have bright hair. Form is used to emphasize the human forms and curves and angles of the women. Movement is used to show how this is a form of street photograph because the subjects seem almost unaware of the camera.  I like the way the setting looks as if someone has stumbled upon it and photographed it quickly. (Photograph from: "The Big Valley".)

I think photographs like this emphasize the way some of the social activities like smoking, were what made you popular in the days when these photographs were set. The formal elements used here are colour and form. Colour is used to once again emphasize the personality of the subjects. Form is used here to emphasize once again the 3D-ness of the human form. I like this photograph because I think it shows the honesty and brutality of the freedom young women were given at this time.
(Photograph from: "Week End".)

Again this photograph emphasizes a social activity that at this time was promoted by anyone who could afford it-even doctors. I think Prager uses tone to show the darkness around the subjects and then uses colour to make the subjects stand out from the aforementioned tone. Movement is also used due to the fact that this is a captured movement in time and if this was filmed this would be one frame of multiple. I like this photograph due to the way it looks like it has been taken quickly and almost as if it has been taken secretly without the knowledge of the subjects even though it is obviously a set up exhibition. (Photograph from: "Week End".)

This photograph shows the carefree nature of the set up although the set is clearly artificial and the audience know that due to the sky and bridge. Prager uses the formal elements of movement, colour, tone and form here. Movement is used because the subject is clearly in motion, colour is used due to the bright contrasting colours splattered on this image, tone is used due to the different light and dark tones on the subject and form is used due to the human being form. I like this photograph due to the contrasting colours but also how the photograph is as much about its setting as it is about the subject. (Photograph from: "Week End".)

How I was Influenced...

Alex Prager has increased my interest in staged sets hugely, I really enjoy the aesthetics of these photographs as I think the stunning use of colour adds to the dramatics and cinematics of each of the images. I like these pictures because I adore the style of old school Hollywood and pop art but when it is emphasized by cinematic magic it brings the images and their subjects together. Alex Prager has influenced me to try doing a Hollywood cinema film style shoot using a lot of colour, form, movement and tone with an element of staged street photography. I wish to use a number of Alex Prager's techniques including her elaborate set use and her camera angles and the concept of staged street photography where she has staged images which she has then made natural by asking her subjects to act caught off guard and avoid looking directlyinto the camera lens. After studying Alex Prager I feel connected to her film making and art photography. In this photograph next to the text I tried to use some of the things I've previously said I liked for example I used dramatic makeup in this image which is reminiscent of her style, also the block colouring in the photograph contradicts the usual pastel look my photos carry. 
I believe her photographs tell stories and fascinating ones at that, the candid shots show us the excitement of the Hollywood life back in the day and help the audience and critics discover further into the story lines she creates within her images. In my opinion Alex Prager is one of the best new art photographers of the  21st century.