Puppet Photography

August 4, 2004 9:12 AM

This art photographer got a Hollywood effects house to build him a creature -- essentially a highly detailed, articulated puppet. He photographs the puppet in vaguely unsettling posed scenes alongside human models. What is this photographer's name?

The puppet is a sort of semi-human thing about four feet tall, with an oversized head and spindly limbs. The puppet is not a prop, but a character -- it has a name (and maybe also a history). The photographs have a bright, crisp, ultra-realistic quality to them.

posted by jjg to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

I believe it's Charlie White. I think the photo you're referring to is Her Place. Wired's got an article about him, and amazon's got a book.
posted by bachelor#3 at 9:25 AM on August 4, 2004

Response by poster: That's it. It's not just one photo, though, there's a whole series. Lots more. Thanks.
posted by jjg at 9:35 AM on August 4, 2004

The puppet's name is Joshua. See also NPR & PBS & The Morning News
posted by jessamyn at 9:36 AM on August 4, 2004

We have The Interloper hanging in a hallway at work. (The Wired article has a photo of it.) Honestly, something about it gives me the willies; I've started avoiding the hallway whenever I can... (and yes, as a grown adult, I do indeed feel like an ass for saying that about a freakin' piece of artwork... geez...)

Props to the artist, though. The work is brilliant technically, the photography is phenominal, and it certainly does evoke an emotional response!
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 9:52 AM on August 4, 2004

Cool info. Modern-day Philippe Halsman?
posted by delapohl at 12:19 PM on August 4, 2004

Similar Artist: Gregory Crewdson. Here are some sample images.
posted by Hankins at 3:42 PM on August 9, 2004