Photographer Larry Sultan Captures Adult Film’s Domestic Settings
In a striking exploration of the adult film industry, the late photographer Larry Sultan brought attention to the unremarkable suburban homes that served as backdrops for porn sets. His work reveals how these ordinary settings, often located in California’s San Fernando Valley, contrast sharply with the conventional narratives of adult entertainment. Sultan’s fascination with these homes began in the late 1990s during a shoot for Maxim magazine, where he captured the coexistence of everyday life and adult film production.
Sultan’s photographic series, titled The Valley, was published as a book in 2004 and features images that depict homes rented out for adult film shoots. He returned to his childhood neighborhood, a region that had transformed into a hub for adult film studios due to its affordability and proximity to Los Angeles. His work highlights the peculiar intersection of domesticity and fantasy, showcasing the mundane details of these spaces that are often overlooked.
Ordinary Spaces, Extraordinary Narratives
In Sultan’s photographs, a vibrant purple curtain drapes over a worn mattress, setting the stage for a scene featuring adult film actor Sharon Wild. The props within the room, such as a brown suitcase and a single lamp, evoke a sense of familiarity, suggesting a narrative that is both ordinary and surreal. Sultan’s wife, Kelly Sultan, recalls his immediate interest in the home’s details—such as magnets on the refrigerator—that illuminated the lives of those who temporarily inhabited these spaces.
Sultan’s approach was not to focus on the explicit nature of the content but to uncover the emotional and psychological layers embedded in these settings. The sex scenes often took a backseat to the intricate details of the homes, as he sought to capture the essence of belonging and place. “He was looking for the details on the sets and in the homes for clues to excavate this interior psyche that we all have,” noted photographer Rebecca Bausher, who assisted Sultan during this period.
A Study of Contrasts
The contrast between the profane and the mundane is a recurring theme in Sultan’s work. In production studios, he documented the disarray of set design, highlighting the incongruities that reveal the constructed nature of adult entertainment. Curtains pushed aside exposed bare walls, while living room furniture appeared hastily assembled. Sultan’s images often hinted at the sex taking place, visible only through reflections or cropped frames, allowing viewers to engage with the narratives in unexpected ways.
Sultan himself articulated his approach during an interview with the Oakland Museum of Contemporary Art in 2003. He described his work as creating “anti-dramatic moments” that diverged from traditional film stills. His portrait of Wild, where she makes direct eye contact with the camera, is one of the few moments where the actors acknowledge the photographer’s presence. Sultan noted, “When I see some purple curtains, I run for my camera. Give me purple curtains and a red suitcase and I’m in heaven!”
Sultan’s legacy continues to resonate, with exhibitions of his work regularly showcasing the complex narratives he captured. His perspective on the adult film industry encourages a deeper understanding of the interplay between domestic life and performance, offering a unique lens through which to view both the ordinary and the extraordinary. The ongoing exhibition of his work at Yancey Richardson Gallery in New York marks a celebration of his contributions to contemporary photography and the enduring intrigue of the spaces he so meticulously documented.
