Michael Stockton: Of Rooms & Stories

A Parallel Planets piece by Unknown

I don't know if it's because I'm getting old or my tastes have started to evolve, but minimalism is an approach to art and photography that I recently find appealing. It amazes me how it manifests in many forms — such as bare spaces, singular shades, monochromatic hues, lone subjects, straight lines that cut frames into two, and striking silhouettes — each with its own charm and effect.

Despite its stark simplicity, it also makes a good story-telling device, effectively isolating imageries, ideas, and narratives, as I found in the works of photographers such as Martin Vlach some time ago, and now, Michael Stockton. The Berlin-based British film photographer has two minimalist sets: Pictures Of Rooms and Pictures Of People In Rooms (yes, nothing fancy even for the titles). While similarly titled, the two sets actually tell compelling stories that are different and independent from each other.

Pictures Of Rooms explores the emotions and thoughts that come with loss or solitude through near-empty rooms, darkened spaces, and bare corners. While the stark simplicity, subdued hues, and lack of subjects immediately evoke feelings of loneliness and despair, Michael's own statement about the series brings a personal perspective that binds this particular body of work:

"It was approximately two years after a close friend died, that I began to feel any real sense of loss. I photographed my surroundings, the areas I inhabited. Each image represents a site where painful experiences were allowed to be remembered. These images must therefore stand in for what cannot be photographed."

Photo by Michael Stockton

Photo by Michael Stockton

With Pictures Of People In Rooms, however, Michael does the opposite and puts the spotlight on his subjects to tell various micro stories. Setting them against simple backgrounds and rendering them in black and white, he reduces each subject to a mini story, as told by their poses or expressions. We see them seemingly lost in thought, dreaming, despairing, in hiding, or peering through doors and windows — why they do so are left to our perception and imagination. For me, this focus on various stories and emotions is cemented by the clever and somewhat delicate play on darkness and light — something which always works with black and white photography.


I find it interesting how Michael was able to make effective photographic narratives by bending minimalism — in his subject, approach, and visual elements — according to his liking and instincts as a storyteller. It's been said countless times that less is more, and in the case of these two tales, I can say I certainly agree.

Don't forget to visit Michael Stockton's website to see the rest of his fascinating photos for both sets!