For nearly 60 years, photographer Will Vogt has documented the lives of his social circle, offering an intimate glimpse into a world of privilege and tradition. His new monograph, Behind the Hedges, published by Schilt Publishing, captures scenes from hunting estates, weddings, annual rituals, exclusive club lunches, and golf weekends. The book features quotes by Vogt and text by editor Jennifer Garza-Cuen, drawn from her essay Posture of Privilege.
A Glimpse Behind the Hedges
Vogt's images focus on a well-established seaside community in Watch Hill, near Newport, Rhode Island, where families have gathered for generations. The photographs offer an insider's view of an American upper-class lifestyle that feels both near and far. One image shows a wedding procession in Watch Hill making its way from the chapel to the reception at the Ocean House.
Voyage to Uruguay
Another striking photograph captures a shooting party arriving in Uruguay via a Gulfstream from Dallas. Vogt explains, 'This was taken from the airstrip on my first trip to San Jose, arriving with our shooting party in Uruguay.' The image exemplifies the tension between proximity and distance that defines Vogt's work, portraying a class oriented toward preservation within a nation otherwise defined by reinvention.
Influences and Early Days
Vogt credits his early influences, including the music of the British invasion, Bob Dylan, and the writing of F. Scott Fitzgerald, for shaping his perspective. His first camera became a refuge at boarding school, where he developed a love for photography. The works of Robert Frank and Allen Frame, along with mentorship from Jennifer Garza-Cuen, further refined his vision.
The Choreography of Privilege
The images in Behind the Hedges mark a shift from Vogt's earlier raw snapshot aesthetic toward a more tableau-like approach. However, these are not carefully constructed scenes but lived spaces that cohere through framing and vantage point. Vogt captures the choreography of privilege with ritualistic regularity, from children playing on Labor Day to a double rainbow over a partridge drive in Wiltshire.
Wealth and Its Protective Layer
In an era of vast wealth inequality, Vogt's work reminds us that privilege functions as a protective layer. While the very rich face human challenges, the sharp edges of life are tempered. The photographs do not announce themselves with spectacle; they are measured and exacting, imbued with the restraint the culture prizes. Humour, when it arrives, slips in on understatement.
Recognition, Not Revelation
Vogt's work offers not revelation but recognition—a sustained look at a world that is both ordinary and impossible. These images remind us that privilege is a design that persists because it feels natural to those dwelling in it. From the annual golf tournament party to the beach crew gathering at Ocean House, Vogt's lens captures a world behind the hedges.
Behind the Hedges is available from Schilt Publishing.
