I pretty much eat, sleep and breath photography. I love anything photography related. I especially love movies in which photography plays an important part of the story. Not just documentary films, but Hollywood movies, actors, directors, stories, that kind of thing. In case you’re like me and also would enjoy these kinds of films, I wanted to share a list of five movies in which photography does play an important part of the story.
Check ’em out!
Blow Up (1966)
Director Michelangelo Antonioni. Main character roughly based on David Bailey. A fashion photographer believes he may have witnessed a crime and becomes obsessed with figuring it out. Plenty of cliche 1960s style, photo shoots, models, photography. It’s even got a club scene where the Yardbirds were playing. Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrJ9U75OZOw
YouTube (pay): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5esCYD3hOAg
Amazon: http://a.co/ibxZkJo
iTunes/Apple TV: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/blow-up/id302577055
The Bang Bang Club (2010)
The story of photojournalists, Kevin Carter, Ken Oosterbroek, João Silva and Greg Marinovich; their interactions within the townships of South Africa during the Apartheid period, particularly between 1990 and 1994, from when Nelson Mandela was released from prison to the 1994 elections. . Please note: It does contain some pretty graphically violent scenes, so might not be for everyone.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFQnoMDFDAY
YouTube (pay): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS9SYvNpyhU
Amazon Prime: http://a.co/e5mOuGK
iTunes/Apple TV: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-bang-bang-club/id427382119
Life (2015)
Story of photographer, Dennis Stock and his relationship with, and iconic photos of actor, James Dean.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ctOgZ5K5to
Netflix: Currently available, just do a search in Netflix
Amazon: http://a.co/5rAXJA4
iTunes/Apple TV: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/life/id1046694782
Monogamy (2010)
Photographer, bored with shooting weddings and engagement shoots offers a service, Gum Shoe Photography. The client pays him and lets him know where and when they’ll be on a certain day. Then the photographer hides nearby, follows and photographs the person without them seeing him. Then he meets with them later and shows them the images. Kind of a “Day in the Life” kind of photo documentary service. But then he gets a female client that he becomes a little infatuated with….
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyis-lDa9T8
YouTube (pay): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBnTSyO7Iuw
Amazon Prime: http://a.co/ea11gDI
iTunes/Apple TV: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/monogamy/id459499377
We’ll Take Manhattan (2012)
The Story of David Bailey and how he and supermodel, Jean Shrimpton really had a big part of how fashion photography changed.
Amazon: Saw a copy of the DVD (UK format only) for only $199.00!
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDwZ3B3uuJI
Photography Matters Ep 12 – Variety – Essential to Photography