Virtual Reality

Gamers Series -Phillip Toledano 2002

  The 'Gamers' photographic series was created in 2002, the work depicts people siting playing video games, with the perspective being as if the audience is gazing upon the subjects through the TV. This view gives us a more defined view of the subject, as it focuses on the emotions, while not being distracted by anything else.
   This series by Toledano is a very intriguing set of images gives us a closer look at video game enthusiasts. The work appears dramatic due to the lighting only highlighting the faces of the individuals, with a completely blacked out background leaving a fair amount of ambiguity for the audience to figure out. The series works as a sequence of expressions which leads in to more interesting and enthralling project, getting a sense of the individuals personality in a simple frozen moment.

Gamers Series -Phillip Toledano 2002

    Toledano states on his website his lack of interest in straightforward portrait photography, as he feels it reveals nothing other than the photographer's intentions and effects of time, while Toledano wants to explore the 'Hidden emotions and feelings? Characteristics that are usually secreted from the world?
I wondered if there was a way to unconsciously tease out aspects of people’s personality, and capture it on film. So I had them play video games.'

   Toledano isn't the only photographer who has looked in to the faces and expressions of  the video gamer, Robbie Cooper made a video piece that watches the changing expressions of children whilst playing video games, unlike Toledano's still images. Coopers piece is called Immersion. The idea behind the work is to show the interaction between the subject and the screen. What is evident among the work is the individuals character whilst immersed within a video game and how their facial appearances change and appear oblivious to the fact they are being filmed.
The subject and viewer’s gaze are a critical component to this project’s success. With Coopers methods allowing the subject to stare straight into the camera’s lens by placing the video game screen in place of the interviewer, Thus making the video game the interviewer.

Stills from 'Immersion' by Robbie Cooper.

   I also highly recomened to also look at Shauna Frischkorn's series 'Game Boys', and Todd Deutsch series 'Gamers'. (links of their works posted below.)




Websites
Phillip Toledano
Robbie Cooper
Robbie Cooper's Blog
Shauna Frischkorn
Todd Deutsch