EXPOSURES
EDITED BY CONOR RISCH
Do you have an interesting photography project? Contact section editor Conor Risch at
PDN, 770 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, N Y 10003 or e-mail conor.risch@nielsen.com.
Left: The first photograph Chris Buck made for his
“Presence” series, with actor William Shatner hiding
somewhere in the frame. Above: Buck had a witness sign
a document attesting that each celebrity subject was
hiding within the photo.
HIDE AND SEEK
CELEBRITY SIGHTING
IN A NEW BOOK OF CONCEPTUAL PORTRAITS OF FAMOUS PEOPLE, CHRIS BUCK
EXPLORES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CELEBRITY AND HOW PHOTOGRAPHIC
TRICKS CAN MANIPULATE PERCEPTION. BY CONOR RISCH
A DELIGHTFUL IRONY underlies Chris Buck’s celebrity
portraiture: Though he feeds our celebrity-obsessed cul-
ture with his images, the fact that he couldn’t care less
about boldface names is what makes his work interest-
ing. “I’m definitely not precious about famous people,”
Buck says. “I’m making pictures for my clients and for the
audience, and not for the subject.”
The lack of awe allows Buck to ask his sitters for the
unexpected, whether that means duct taping Sir Richard
Branson to a wall, convincing David Cross to make a
photograph in which he seems to be kicking a dog or pho-
tographing Steve Carell sprawled out with his head on a
table as if he’s simply had enough.
