The line between staged and documentary photography

Featuring Zac Wilson Words by Nastasia Khmelnitski

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Zac Wilson is a photographer from East Tennessee, the US. Through fascination with the area and its people, Zac gradually builds a distinct point of view, which makes his photography easily recognizable. The research is of the human and their presentation through the impact of culture, location, and the authentic perception of the self. Zac chooses to highlight the documentary narrative with the technique of staged image.

The viewer is left to decide how to interpret the story and to which extent to believe the character. As Zac explains, “I’m very protective of the people I photograph, who, the majority of the time, are playing an exaggerated version of themselves, based on my direction.”

In this conversation, we discuss with Zac the impact East Tennessee has had on the aesthetic he developed. We speak about stereotypes that appear as a leitmotif in his work, the approach to the subject and story, and the shared traits that run in the family. Probably the most known characters in Zac’s work are his aunts, whom we meet throughout the series of photographs trying to build the storyline and add details to the frames. The experience of seeing people through Zac’s eyes is close to getting familiar with and even attached to a character in a book, missing them once the reading is over.

‘I’ve been telling stories all my life, although the medium has changed over the years. I’m always trying to create something, and I don’t really know why. Sometimes I wish I were passionate about something else, something more practical and stable.’

I Am

What was the most fascinating activity for you before photography? How did photography come about in your life? 

My first real interest was reading. As a child, I was always in my room, reading Goosebumps books by R.L. Stine, or Archie comics (this was way before the internet!) I started writing short stories as a teenager, and have a lot of journals that are filled with embarrassing entries about my life back then. I became interested in photography around the age of 12, when I got my first Polaroid camera and then started doing photoshoots with friends around my senior year of high school. I’ve been telling stories all my life, although the medium has changed over the years. I’m always trying to create something, and I don’t really know why. Sometimes I wish I were passionate about something else, something more practical and stable.

‘My favorite location is The Beauty Spot in Erwin, which is this peak on the Unaka mountain range, with views of Tennessee and North Carolina. It’s gorgeous, and one of my favorite things.’

East Tennessee

How would you describe East Tennessee: the area, the people, your favorite locations? 

East Tennessee is a very interesting area. It’s a beautiful part of the country, but I don’t always see eye to eye with the people that live here, and sometimes I feel like an outsider. That said, there are also a lot of forward-thinking people here, which I’ve only discovered recently, and I really am proud to call East Tennessee home. I’ve lived here my entire life, so I don’t really know any different, but I have found that if I am away for a long time, I miss being home. 

In what way do you think growing up and living in this particular part of the country have affected the themes you approach in photography or aesthetics? 

My favorite location is The Beauty Spot in Erwin, which is this peak on the Unaka mountain range, with views of Tennessee and North Carolina. It’s gorgeous, and one of my favorite things to do is go there with my camera before sunrise. I still haven’t found a purpose for any of these pictures, though. I think with photography, the rule of “photograph what you know” is very appropriate. I photograph the people and things that are around me on a regular basis, and the overall aesthetic of the area automatically shines through in my images, without a lot of careful consideration being put into it.

‘A lot of time and effort can go into something you are passionate about, just to be met with indifference, but I have to remind myself that the reason I do it in the first place is because I love the process of creating.’

The Person

People you capture appear to be torn away for a moment from their daily routine to take part in the world you create, the type of presentation you craft. Where does the line between staged photography and documentary cross? 

The line between staged photography and documentary is a blurry one. The majority of my work is staged, and the people I photograph aren’t really themselves in the work if that makes sense. The final image is more representative of me, even though I’m not the one in the picture. I try to be very cautious about this because I don’t want the viewer to make unfair assumptions about the person in the photo. I’m very protective of the people I photograph, who, the majority of the time, are playing an exaggerated version of themselves, based on my direction. 

I’m always interested in hearing how other portrait photographers work. I can photograph all day long if I have an idea I’m excited about bringing to life. I have to remember that the people I’m collaborating with might not feel the same way and check-in with how they are feeling every once in a while. On a side note, I think it takes a very specific kind of personality to be into photography, which can be a very unrewarding art form in a lot of ways. A lot of time and effort can go into something you are passionate about, just to be met with indifference, but I have to remind myself that the reason I do it in the first place is because I love the process of creating. It’s therapeutic for me.

‘I do photograph a lot of stereotypes, and I generally amp these stereotypes up a notch or two. I didn’t realize how many photos I have of people smoking cigarettes until, pretty recently, when I was putting a series together.’

Stereotypes

In your about section, your work is presented as an exploration of stereotypes of the south. Which stereotypes do you find most interesting to research? 

One of my friends said they thought my work was ‘campy,’ which hurt my feelings, but now I think they were right to an extent, and I’ve embraced it. I do photograph a lot of stereotypes, and I generally amp these stereotypes up a notch or two. I didn’t realize how many photos I have of people smoking cigarettes until, pretty recently, when I was putting a series together. I’m kind of embarrassed about it, to be honest!

One Photograph 

What was the most memorable occurrence or conversation with a person that led you to capture their image?

I’m always very hesitant to approach someone about taking their photograph, and I’ve let many opportunities go by without taking the chance and still regret those missed opportunities to this day. So that’s definitely something I’m working on. I went to a motorcycle show in my hometown a year or two ago, and forced myself to go up to a lot of bikers with my camera, and got some great pictures out of that. I didn’t have a single person tell me 'no,' but later when I looked back on the photos, I saw some of the subjects had given me the finger.

Family

Speaking about family, you often photograph family members and especially your aunts. What is the trait or shared characteristic that runs in the family?  

My siblings and I are all very different, but I think one thing we all have in common is that we all have this drive to create something. My brother and sister are both artists. While I’m not really sure where this trait comes from, I would guess that it’s from my mother’s side of the family. We’re also all very quick-tempered and stubborn, which definitely comes from my dad’s side! The aunts that I photograph are my dad’s sisters.

Upcoming Projects

What are your plans for this year? What are you working on right now?

I haven’t really been creating anything in the past few months, and honestly, it’s starting to take a toll. Photography is a very collaborative art form for me. I can’t wait until we have a grasp on our current situation, and for safety measures to be lifted, so I can see my friends and start making work together. I always thought I wasn’t a very social person, but 2020 has made me realize I really am. My long-term goal is to make photography my career. It’s taken me a long time to get to the point of saying “this is what I really want, and I am capable of doing it.” I feel like it’s taken me a lot longer to realize this than it takes other people, but we’re all on our own journey, right? I’m excited to see what the future holds.