Philip-Lorca diCorcia EXPLAINED – How He Blurred Truth & Fiction in Photography

Discover how Philip-Lorca diCorcia used carefully constructed scenes to create photographs that feel both documentary and fictional. This video explores how his approach to staging, lighting, and subject matter challenged traditional ideas of authenticity in photography.

We examine diCorcia’s most important series including Hustlers, Heads, W Magazine, and East of Eden. From his earliest work, diCorcia showed an interest in performance, morality, and narrative tension. From using hidden strobes on the street to building cinematic fashion sets, his work pushed the limits of our perception of photography.

Philip-Lorca diCorcia built his reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in 1990s and early 2000s photography working in analogue film. His images feel cinematic, psychological, and sometimes unsettling, but always meticulously constructed. His iconic work navigated the tension between observation and orchestration.

I really hope if you are new to his work you enjoy the journey of discovery ahead!

all images used for educational purposes here are copyright Philip-Lorca diCorcia (unless stated as Winograd, Friedlander or Groover).

You may need to hit pause for some of the captions, editing this was a lot!

For more reading on PLDC try
https://spruethmagers.com/artists/phi...
https://www.moma.org/artists/7027-phi...
https://americansuburbx.com/2015/08/p...
https://www.icaboston.org/art/philip-...