Yorgos Lanthimos Trades the Director’s Chair for the Photographer’s Darkroom: A Shift in Creative Focus
Yorgos Lanthimos, the acclaimed director behind films like Poor Things and The Favourite, is stepping away from filmmaking – “for now, at least” – to dedicate himself to photography. This move signals a growing trend among artists exploring different mediums to fuel their creativity and challenge conventional narratives.
The Allure of Analog in a Digital World
Lanthimos is a committed analog photographer, a choice that resonates with a resurgence of interest in film photography. While digital photography dominates the market, the tactile and deliberate process of shooting on film offers a unique aesthetic and creative control. He recently processed film in a makeshift darkroom in his hotel bathroom with the help of Emma Stone while on set.
This isn’t a new passion; Lanthimos studied photography during film school and documented his early productions. However, the demands of directing led him to rely on dedicated on-set photographers. The return to personal photography represents a reclaiming of creative agency and a return to the roots of his artistic vision.
Beyond the Frame: Photography as Narrative Exploration
Lanthimos describes photography as “freer” than filmmaking, with “fewer rules tied to conventional narrative.” This freedom allows him to explore themes that complement his cinematic work, particularly his fascination with the interplay between humans and landscapes. He’s interested in “how landscapes are affected by humans, and the kind of contradictions that arise when these beautiful places are touched by the human hand.”
His photographs often feature actors he frequently collaborates with, like Willem Dafoe and Jesse Plemons, blurring the lines between staged portraiture and candid observation. This approach suggests a desire to capture a different dimension of his artistic collaborators, extending the narrative beyond the confines of a film script.
A Growing Trend: Artists Embracing Multiple Disciplines
Lanthimos’s shift isn’t isolated. Many prominent filmmakers and artists are increasingly diversifying their creative output. This trend reflects a desire to break down traditional boundaries between artistic disciplines and explore new avenues for expression.
Consider the work of Sofia Coppola, who has also pursued photography alongside her filmmaking career. This cross-pollination of skills can enrich an artist’s overall vision and lead to innovative work in both mediums.
Exhibition and New Publication
Lanthimos is currently preparing for an exhibition, Yorgos Lanthimos: Photographs, opening March 7 at Onassis Stegi in Athens, Greece, and running until May 17. He will also launch a new photo book, viscin, to coincide with the exhibition. Curator Michael Mack notes that Lanthimos’s photography “establishes his flourishing capacity to elicit emotional and intellectual leaps of faith beyond the frame of a still photograph.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Yorgos Lanthimos abandoning filmmaking entirely?
A: Not necessarily. He has stated he is focusing on photography “for now,” suggesting a temporary shift in priorities.
Q: What kind of photography does Lanthimos practice?
A: He is an analog photographer, preferring to shoot on film and develop his own prints.
Q: Where can I see Lanthimos’s photography?
A: His exhibition, Yorgos Lanthimos: Photographs, is at Onassis Stegi in Athens, Greece, from March 7 to May 17.
Q: What themes does Lanthimos explore in his photography?
A: He is particularly interested in the relationship between humans and landscapes, and the contradictions that arise when the two intersect.
Did you know? Lanthimos built a darkroom in his hotel bathroom to process his film while shooting Poor Things.
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