6 Photographers Who Create Strange Images That Haunt Our Minds

[@jimtipton8888]

Your channel is a standout! Refreshing and insightful! Thanks for the great content!

[@chillaxsnip3r93]

joel peter-witkin is a photographer that stood out to me in college, and to this day has stuck in my mind in a good and bad way. if anyone has seen his work, you'll know what I am talking about.

[@yanivabrale8256]

Such a great special video. Keep up the great work😀

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks everyone for being here. Do you have any photographers you can suggest who create 'unusual' photography?

[@andrehebert8604]

Witkin is always fun... (Marilyn Manson kinda ripped off his style?) Wendy Ewald had kids making some confounding stuff. Thanks for Meatyard plaudit. He is often derided as a photographer for the young... Summer Camp - Benard Faucon is wonderfully demented.

[@SakariKaripuro]

From the fashion world, i do enjoy Paolo Roversi; known for Vogue etc - high profile photographer. he's done some dark & haunting stuff over the years.

[@bushbeatnik4480]

Joel-Peter Witkin is the king of spooky- ironically was also a master printer and nuts tech on chemistry and process as well.

[@Kim_Miller]

I remember seeing some work of a European photographer who magnified the 'kids can be spooky' theme with lots of child shop mannequins with real children mixed in. They tended to be outside in the woods as I recall. I've no idea of his name but perhaps somebody here will know of him.

[@rdandelionart]

Tim Walker is one of my absolute favourites. I am envious that he got to assist for Richard Avedon! Thanks for talking about him :)

[@themichaeldonovan]

I was happy to see Erwin Olaf made the list - he made a massive impact on me when I first started shooting professionally. I was, however, hoping there would have been more obtuse and lesser known photographers that spent decades creating worlds that are dark, psychologically twisted, challenging, and more profound: Asger Carlson, Roger Ballen, Sarah Moon, Elizavita Porodina, myself (Michael Donovan), Ren Hang, or even Steven Klein (Steven isn’t unknown or underrated, but he’s pushed darkness and “scary” in fashion much further than Walker or anyone else). Rankin is just so overrated and basic, and that time could have been spent on more creative artists that are lesser known to the masses. Walker and Tenneson make beautiful work but I don’t consider them the best in the “scary images” category. I often feel KZbinrs cover the most “pleasant” photographers and fail at covering those on the edges truly pushing the art forward. Anyway- thumbs up for the vid despite my complaints! Thanks for making these so we can all see what else is out there.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hi Michael. Thanks for watching . When thinking about photographers to showcase, it's tricky to find a balance between 'obscure' and 'overly well known'. Especially so in this type of genre. You mentioned Ballen for example - I thought, perhaps incorrectly, though the drop in numbers when Meatyard was on the screen suggests otherwise, that he might be a bit 'full on' for a first step into more 'adult' worlds. That also raises the problem with YT IRT 'adult' themes - anything that even suggests 18+ content gets hammered in being shown to a wider audience (e.g YT automatically 18+ restricted my Leibovitz video because there was a rear nude shot of Arnie during a Mr Olympia warmup.) I would love to continue this discussion - drop me a line (email is in the channel info) and hear more of your thoughts

[@tylerhuttosmith]

Keith Carter also has produced quite a bit of the unusual more pictorial style and sometimes a bit unsettling

[@EnigmaartsPhoto]

These are wonderful and thank you from a fellow Goth! One of my favorite photographers is Clarence John Laughlin, who is a bit obscure but is known as 'The Father of American Surrealism'. I discovered a vintage copy of 'Ghosts Along the Mississippi' many years ago, his photos are very haunting and beautiful, and his work focused on one of my favorite cities in the US, New Orleans.

[@thatdeafguyuk]

Floria Sigismondi produced Manson's stunning 'Tourniquet' video, he has so many great videos including the classic 'The Beautiful People'.

[@mada.jurado]

Excellent episode. Thanks for sharing all this content with us.

[@paulstillwell]

I absolutely loved this episode! (And all of them, really). I highly recommend that you seek out Brooke Shaden. She has an amazing selection of work on her Flickr stream!

[@ratgirl13]

I find inspiration in channels like yours Alex, and in paintings and poetry and will carry these images that you’ve shown us today not to copy, but to inform my own photography. Thank you.

[@thepkeezy]

Enjoyed your video. Thank you for putting together this wonderful collection of interesting and unusual artist.

[@brandizenintikaryapt5704]

The words strange and haunting immediately made me think of Duane Michals. Surprised not to see him here, especially since he would appear to have influenced some of the photographers you mention.

[@charlotta2hotta]

Thank you. Your videos are helpful, delightful, and enjoyable.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you enjoy them Char- thanks for being here

[@aes53]

When I first started going to photography auctions I became exposed to the work of Joel-Peter Witkin, for some reason they were often up for sale. Absolutely the most disturbing photos I have ever seen.

[@descender421]

Love your videos and you seem like a very good person. Thanks.

[@chrispatmore8944]

Two others, off the top of my head to check out, if you aren’t already aware of them, are: Duane Michals and Irena Ionesco

[@largophoto]

This is by far one of my favorite episodes ...you are indeed a Goth Illuminati./.

[@NickBarang]

Brooke Shaden, she has so much talent and I have no idea where her ideas come from, but wow. Seriously, wow.

[@daemon1143]

Lux’s kiddy pictures are amazingly potent given their simplicity. It’s not easy to see what makes them work. I wish I’d thought of some of the ideas Walker used. I don’t know that they, “open up a world we’re not supposed to see…”, so much as they jog our memory of the things we forget upon waking.

[@alnwick00]

Thanks for this video. It gave me ideas to take my own photography!

[@darrendavy4248]

Great video , really enjoyed it cheers.

[@the_photarist1845]

Thank you for adding to me more photographers that sing to me. I really love the surreal nature, as well as the "off"nature of them. Being a huge fan of people like Todd Hido, and the idea of liminal spaces this is also something that speaks to me because it peels back the world a bit where you can look at the nuts and bolts of it without human attitudes getting in the way.

[@cliveeariss880]

Very much outside the box thinking, and very creative, some I get some well not sure, and a longer look makes some sence, but very different for sure, a lot of retro colours involved, thanks for this Alex.

[@ralfschoeneck2089]

Really interesting ways to present strange normality

[@jaywalking7469]

Kids, clowns and Marilyn Manson! It is Halloween time indeed! Brian Warner (aka Marilyn Manson) has employed some of the best photographers to bring about his projected image. I can't name a single one of them, but you can google the images that Mr. Warner had had taken of him. Ever single one of them have captured the, I don't know, "Marilyn Manson Character" that Mr. Warner has imagined. They have all done beautiful jobs of bringing this broken, twisted mockery of ourselves to life. It was nice to see Marilyn Manson mentioned in a Halloween video on photography!

[@jeffcohnphoto]

Love this video, Also make sure to check out Eugenio Recuenco and Miles Aldridge. Both brilliant and similar to this list.

[@mcmullen_photo]

This was great, and I agree with every pick, but why no Joel-Peter Witkin?? Definitely some haunting images in his portfolio :D

[@tilerman]

So many amazing images in this video. If i could have taken just one of them. Such amazing thinking behind these images. Wonderful.

[@DI-cm5xc]

Excellent piece, Alex. Happy Halloween to you!

[@karayiannakis]

Thank you Alex.

[@samcaple8197]

The Family Album of LucyBelle Crater! Don't see it referenced very much. Check out the Lexington Camera Club, Ralph Meatyard and others such as Guy Mendez. Late 1950s through the very early 1970s. Very interesting work. - Sam Caple Louisville Kentucky

[@ChrisW.Fuji_Canon]

wonderful work

[@pictureeyecandy]

Felt like when it was being broadcast live it ended too soon. Still, this was fun and educational.

[@geoffmphotography9444]

More great content Alex. Very interesting.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Geoff. Don't really go for 'themed' stuff usually, but figured it was a good way to introduce some more 'unusual' photography

[@geoffmphotography9444]

@@ThePhotographicEye That's why your channel is different and refreshing; looking at photography rather than how to do it.

[@gerdbenn4475]

Good overview with some names from the colourful to the real bleak and disturbing ones. Was waiting for Floria Sigismondi, who was shown in the beginning of the video. So I would like to recommend her here in the comments.

[@BobOgden1]

I feel the reason kids make such great subjects for spooky photography is adjacent to the uncanny valley effect. It doesn't take much to turn normal into "wrong", simple adult activities can be enough to push a child into frightening territory

[@DanielleDeutschTV]

Great video!! Someone I’d like to add to this mysterious and odd list is Francesca Woodman. 😆 Happy Halloween! 👻

[@sueowen3891]

To have a theme like this works really well, it must take some time and knowledge to put it together, and more in a similar vein would be brilliant. I think Erwin Olaf was my favourite. (It’s also interesting to know that you were a Goth, Alex!)

[@Rob.1340]

Thank you. 👍📷😎

[@erickking6729]

Great video and Happy Halloween!

[@Yesthankyou8]

Amazing video, thank you

[@davidjoy5995]

I stumbled across the photographer Joel Peter Witkin which I find very strange/ weird. I wonder what other people think of him? Thanks for another fantastic video.

[@jimtipton8888]

Thanks!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Jim!

[@Damfotografia]

A spooky episode indeed hahaha

[@antman5474]

What do you ascribe to. What do I have to learn?

[@Threetails]

Personally I'm trying to get a studio set up so I can make macabre and disturbing still life photos. Something with a bit of a Goth edge perhaps but not all of it.

[@hmuz8388]

1:15 did you just call kids "these things"? 🤣🤣

[@marius.dascalu]

I found Loretta's book a few days ago in a antique store in Bucharest, bought it for 7$..

[@terrywbreedlove]

Oh darn I missed the live

[@bosmanerwin]

you open new worlds for me !

[@antman5474]

This shit is pure Art. Thanks for that.

[@leovangaal3605]

Erwin Olaf passed away yesterday, age 64

[@warrend8362]

Helmut Newton interesting interactions with his models and story line

[@ThePhotographicEye]

I'm still trying to figure out how to get Helmut Newton and KZbin to play nice

[@warrend8362]

@@ThePhotographicEye I suppose it depends on what images you want to show 🥴 His world without Men book with the bear on the cover that had to be retouched for various reasons probably wouldn’t fly

[@jpdj2715]

I immensely value your work, Alex - compliments and thanks for making the difference. Your work deserves the best sponsorship imaginable. And that brings me to the sponsor of this video. I was led to believe these sponsors are involved in the end result of the advertisement that you do and you may have to improve on your take many times until they are satisfied. Well, they have pushed you to spend from before 10 min 40 sec to after 11 min 50 sec and that seems excessive to me, to the point it works against the x-space brand in my head. With about 50K subscribers you may not have a strong enough negotiation position yet, but you are getting views at a fast rate and these encapsulated advertisements stay in your videos "forever". I feel the sponsor should contain themselves more and consider more creative solutions. I guess this approach is "free" compared to them advertising directly with YT.

[@StellaDuchessofLondon]

Brooke Shaden!

[@tom3568]

Another nice video spoilt by bloody awful adverts

[@Gitsh]

Love your channel, always interesting and intelligent. I've been a Ralph Eugene Meatyard fan for the last 35 years or more, since I was at Art school. Check out Arthur Tress, Sally Mann and Keith Carter's photography!

[@robertocollo2890]

And Tierney Gearon’s

[@traustithornysson7506]

Time Has Memory…,

[@oneeyedphotographer]

There is a reason I do not watch commercial TV.

[@Northstar-Media]

Do you know the photographer of a black & white photograph of a young girl with a cigarette. I love photographs that give you escapism as a glimpse into another slightly off kilter world like meat yards work.

[@MadAntz970]

And William Mortensen was leading the way back in the 1930's

[@altioramedia5170]

You want haunting images, check out Joel Peter Witkin from my home state of New Mexico!

[@jamesoliver6625]

Failure to maintain the distinction between photography and composed images is like failing to perceive the distinction between truth and falsehood. The graphic arts can be a beautiful thing having myself spent 33 years in high end output/reproduction trades. But it must always be remembered that a composed image is at best an untruth. It may be an attractive, coherent, poignant, distasteful, delicious image, but it is not the truth and its purpose is to evoke a response to something unreal.

[@JimiHendrix998]

This is the first thing you have featured which frankly gave me the creeps. Some of this stuff is edging towards the limits of taste, if not legality........

[@marcp.1752]

Music of MM was never being cool nor hip either way, btw. And not even Metal. It's just about posing only.

[@antman5474]

Perhaps I should get back to painting,, photography is for the photografists if that makes any sense. But fuck yeah, you dudes are artists.

[@antman5474]

fcvkin hell bro? where are you going with this? Me, I just like taking photo's. Capturing life as it happens as it where. Massive difference between what you ascribe to and what's actually happening. Surely. Correct me if I'm wrong!

[@robertgrant3844]

I have been appreciative and enriched by the education you generously give us. We are better because of you - until now. You’ve gone to far. Your premise and much of the substance is still interesting, even intriguing, but “disturbing” is not something to celebrate. Frankly, some content you just shocked us with is ugly and awful. That’s the jeopardy of media now, extreme for the sake of extreme. Too bad. I like you very much, but unsubscribing. I wish you well.

[@mistycloud7257]

Talk is cheap. Do you ever do anything other than talking? Are you even a photographer. Can't stand more than 2 minutes of this.

[@rdandelionart]

Mean comments on the internet is cheap. You're projecting your own insecurities.

[@veivoli]

Love the content on your channel. Wait... There isn't any... [Obscenity removed to keep the channel family friendly, but you're still an idiot.] This is one of the friendliest and most informative photography channels, that is pretty much free of gear reviews. If you don't appreciate the content, go elsewhere. When you come back from that (this was a reference to the deleted remark telling you to search for the definition of your personality as shown by your comment, so won't make a lot of sense after the edit), search for Alex and see how many years of experience he has and his awards. Come back when you have something to show, your talk is less than cheap. Edit: Obscenity removed to keep channel family friendly but, unfortunately, it can't be made idiot-proof.