Photographers in Focus: Stephen Shore

American documentary photographer Stephen Shore will be honored at this year’s Photo London as the Master of Photography—an award bestowed on leading contemporary artists who have made an exceptional contribution to photography. Alongside a headline talk, Shore will also debut Details, his latest series of images that capture found arrangements of natural material and street debris.

Since taking up photography at the age of six, Shore has published over 25 monographs that showcase his unconventional framing and subject matter: parked cars, gas stations, public signs, desolate streets, hotel rooms, uneaten meals… All the while, his unique frame of vision blurs the line between observational and documentary photography.

Shore’s interest in daily life and common objects began when, at the age of 17, he became the de facto photographer in residence at Andy Warhol’s studio and creative epicentre, The Factory. Shore’s early work humanised pop icons like Lou Reed, Paul Morrissey and Edie Sedgwick who frequented the Manhattan space. Instead of glorifying them, Shore’s images labored over the quiet, interstitial moments between The Factory’s famous film shoots and hedonistic gatherings.

Fifty years of empty chairs and cracked pavements later, the work of the ever-evolving photographer has transitioned to Instagram, with his social feed being foregrounded during his MoMa retrospective in 2018. It is of no wonder that his work has flourished on a platform that fulfils Warhol’s prophecy that everyone in the future will have their fifteen minutes of fame. As part of Photo London, Shore will be exhibiting his classic work Los Angeles, California, February 4th, 1969, a series of photos taken over the course of one day that, like social media, chronicles the minutiae of everyday existence.

As part of this editorial partnership with Photo London, NOWNESS is putting on a special program of screenings—including this Photographers in Focus episode on Stephen Shore—and a live panel discussion with NOWNESS creative director Bunny Kinney, Emmy-nominated Freddie Paxton, photographer Yumna Al-Arashi, and artist Maisie Cousins.

Photo London runs from 16 - 19 May at Somerset House, London.

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[Dylanwade_]

I absolutely love that he points out, "my hotel room looked like what it looked like." So often do we see images being made of vintage sceneries or cars today, because we want that nostalgic vibe (im guilty of this myself), but those things weren't vintage when he photographed them. Dont skip out on a making a photograph because there is a 2017 honda civic in the way. In 40 years, people will say, "i love how nostalgic these make me feel..."

[erinmontoya]

"I felt awake when I didn't turn my mind off" that right there is feeling that got me into photography. So often in our lives we don't pay attention to what's in front of us, we never fully see life as it is. Thank you Nowness, now I have another photographic hero whose work I can admire:)

[lauraeiriarte]

" there's so much to be experienced just in average moments."
thank you, maestro !

[jas_bataille]

"Some people think it's boring and some say, you don't understand"
I feel the same way about life.

[raksh]

I never find Stephen's compositions boring. His work is deeply fascinating, artistic and iconic.

[Kuhoochandra]

I really really like these pictures. Finally, I found a photographer whose work I actually resonate with. And I dont have to alter my view of the world to fit into the ideal aesthetics of photography. His pictures are raw, not mundane and unique. They are exactly how archives should be, not arranged in a symmetry but left how they were supposed to be. The rawness represents movements to me which you can only understand when wr think of how the subject got there the way it is. There isnt much to explain. It is plain observation.
This is what it is to me.

[Ad_Astra]

I reckon all photographers are super visual, highly aware of tiny moments on a daily basis that they want to capture there and then, but only a handful of them produces photographs make others ‘feel’

[rivh]

I didn't get his photo before but now I kind of understand that is exactly what he aims for. Maybe it's more about the act of deconstruct what photography is. Like what if we just appreciate average things as they are. In a way, it's the mundaneness makes his work brilliant.

[michaelconchscooter]

Affirmation by Stephen Shore that snapshots are okay makes me feel much better. Wish the video were longer...

[paultaylorphotography]

Never heard of Stephen before someone mentioned his name in comments under one of my videos so I checked him out this is the first vid I’ve watched about Stephen initial thoughts love his street work and his still life snaps would have been very ordinary back when shot but with the passing of time they’re literally a snap shot of times long gone that’s the power of photography. Like and subbed and will check more of stephens work happy to keep learning 📷❤️📷

[iamyou]

i feel the same way when i photograph everyday things, some people will ask what are you seeing? why is that picture worthy? but i cant explain it it just is

[LittleOwlLoves]

Great video! I am excited to look more at his work. The nostalgia and the way he captured that time is incredible 😌

[camhan]

How did he sustain his life economically with this style of photography?

[smalltalk.productions]

a lovely vid. thank you for the effort and sharing. thumbs up.

[ropersix]

04:36, so much better than going to Yosemite to try and do an Ansel Adams photo.

[zguy]

Stephen Shore is a genius, love his work

[Project_]

When somebody back in the day asked you if you're a photographer too, sharing the same interest and passion, it was a connective act of affiliation. If two photographers today meet, it is only competition and an envious d*ck comparison - like "Oh you got a Canon? Well I shoot a Leica" or "No I won't tell you what or how I do things, because you may steel from me." It's not about the art anymore but about status.

It is this kind of narcissistic attitude I had to deal with a lot in the last 10 years. Photography has changed so tremendously that there is no real connection within the photographers community anymore (if you can even call it a real community). The only connection that's left is between a photographer and other people's opinions. Sad development in my opinion.

[carpenterfamily]

3:47 Bingo - Maintain awareness in the midst of life.

[jakemillward-davis]

anyone know the tracks used in this video?

[lucasquinnfilms]

Does anyone know what the music is at the start?