In her series Empty Porn Sets, photographer Jo Broughton shows us the eerie calm of porn sets after a film shoot.
"Burgundy Set"
Broughton started her career working as an assistant to a pornography photographer while studying at the Royal College of Art in London. Her role included cleaning up the aftermath of porn sets in the studio after everyone had gone home after filming.
On first glance, these scenes appear to look like show-home sets – until you notice the traces of what has taken place.
"Blindfold Set"
"Changing Room Set"
"At times I struggled with what went on in the space, about the objectification of women," Broughton says in an artist statement. "I hid my association with the porn industry like a guilty secret but without it I may not have been able to realise my ambitions. To this day I cannot say I am comfortable with the porn industry, but I do now realise that there are two sides to every coin, light and dark."
"Christmas in November Set"
"Christmas in July Set"
"Balloon Set"
"Egg Shells Pink Set"
"G-I Jane Set"
"Presents Set"
"Ice Cave Set"
"Lounge Set"
"Messy Bed Set"
"Nurses Set"
"My work always contains a documentary element," Broughton says.
"Pink Chair Set"
"Pink Satin Set"
"As a cleaner I saw the sets in the cold light of day and picking up and cleaning the mess was a bit like being in a crime scene. Dealing with the inevitable bodily fluids made me feel my own humanity and then the vulnerability of the models who had performed for the camera that day. In the end, though, I was learning my craft, trying to understand light and how to photograph really well."
"Posh Set"
"School Room Set"
"Sunny Sofa Set"
