Philip-Lorca diCorcia is an American photographer. He studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Afterwards diCorcia attended Yale University where he received a Master of Fine Arts in Photography in 1979. He now lives and works in New York City, and teaches at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
Philip-Lorca diCorcia's photographs straddle truth and fiction by combining real people and places, but not necessarily people and places that naturally go together. The theatricality of his images is carefully constructed; he arranges the objects of each scene and devises precise lighting and framing for every project. HIs work is often described as cinematic, a description that diCorcia deplores. He insists that his pictures suggest rather than elucidate a full narrative. His brand of story telling results in unstable, unfixed images that point in certain directions but never provide a definitive map.
- https://www.moma.org/artists/7027
I have been largely Inspired by Philip-Lorca diCorcia in my photography since I first discovered his work about a year ago. I liked the cinematic style of his images, but never thought i'd use his images as guidance for some of my documentary project as it is such a different style. diCorcia spends lot's of time planning and preparing what can seem to be candid shots. However my approach has been very different and I rely a lot on the decisive moment without much planning.
Mario - 1978
This is perhaps one of Philip-Lorca diCoricias most famous images in which he told his brother to stare into the open fridge, where he had placed a an electronic flash triggered at the moment of exposure whilst his camera was on a tripod. This shot was a case of trial and error until he had the result he wanted, with lots of readjusting of lighting and made several Polaroid test shots.
I really like this image, particularly the lighting and how it bleeds against the back wall as well as onto the subjects face from the fridge. The composition is nice and the doors on the left and right of the image frame the rest of the picture very nicely. This image has quite an eerie tone to it, the man here appears very lonely and perhaps unhappy. I also really like how clear and sharp the subject is as the background is softer.
Igor - 1987
This image was clearly shot on the subway and depicts a middle aged man sitting down holding a goldfish in a bag. I assume just won or bought the fish and is taking it home with him. He looks unbothered by his surroundings and as if he is deep in thought, he also seems quite relaxed. I like how the seats on the subway match colours with the goldfish, whilst everything else remains very dark and grey, leaving these to be the only things that stand out.
