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Chiaruscuro
Chiaruscuro
MichaelC


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: 1-Second Exposure (Advanced Editing VII*)
Collection: Chiaruscuro
Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
Location: Sydney
Date: Mar 18, 2009
Aperture: f/22
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1 sec
Galleries: Portraiture, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Mar 20, 2009

 Currently doing a Hollywood Lighting course at the ACP (Australian Centre for Photography) during which we try to recreate the styles of the masters of this genre, such as Hurrell & Bull.

The title is best explained by Matt Henry in an article from Jan 2009 Professional Photographer:-
"Chiaruscuro is Italian for light-dark and the term has become most popularly associated with 16th century painings by artists like Baglione and Caravaggio that depict dark subjects lit by a shaft of light."

After spending the last 5 years trying to find out what appeals to me I have found it in Chiaruscuro. Somewhere in photographys journey over the last 30-40 years grain, shadow & hair lights become dirty words and I want them back. So no more bugs, splahes & shadowless glamour, throw away the soft boxes and give me the high drama that was Hollywood Studios of the '30s.

I should suggest this style for challenge theme.

"WTF has this got to do with a 1 sec exposure?" I hear you cry. Because in the '30s equipment was such that portraits were often shot with long exposures of around this timing and in trying to recreate 'the look' I chose to do the same. It adds to the softness & granularity.

Levels, curves, gaussian blur for the skin, sharpened & brightened the eyes, burned some of the BG.

Statistics
Place: 32 out of 132
Avg (all users): 6.0317
Avg (commenters): 7.3077
Avg (participants): 5.7541
Avg (non-participants): 6.1641
Views since voting: 2055
Views during voting: 528
Votes: 189
Comments: 18
Favorites: 4 (view)

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AuthorThread
 04/01/2009 07:19:18 PM
PostLuminous Award Nominee!
nice 'old school' classical image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/29/2009 06:19:05 PM
A nice portrait. It meets the challenge but I don't feel it is in the spirit of the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/27/2009 02:40:43 PM
Interesting desat with the eyes. Draws the viewer into the photo more.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/26/2009 06:40:13 PM
The eyes are over done and made what would be a beautiful portrait into a creepy one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/26/2009 04:45:08 AM
one of the best setup studio portraits i've seen on dpc for a while!
beautfiful model, good lighting and a great 40's feel to boot. fav!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/26/2009 12:08:05 AM
Very nice; love the tones.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/25/2009 08:47:43 PM
Nice tones, very good contrast, perfect, classy model.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/25/2009 10:36:47 AM
awesome portrait, very classic looking.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/25/2009 07:29:22 AM
This looks like a Kiwiness image. Lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/24/2009 11:52:21 PM
Beautiful portrait.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/24/2009 08:21:34 AM
Quite a captivating portrait
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2009 11:08:19 PM
Nice, I like this, but I think the editing done on the eyes is a bit much for me but still a very nice photo! 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2009 09:46:16 PM
Something so artistically classic and noirish (not quite Renaissance lighting) grabs my attention. Wonderfully handling of light. Not quite in the spirit of the topic since any posed portrait can be a slow exposure. This doesn't provide any quality that says is is a 1 sec pose. It is only slightly soft which could be associated with any number of circumstances. could have been an 8 or better but holding it to a 7 for lack of topicality. That having been said.. it is so deliciously done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2009 09:18:15 PM
Loveyl shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2009 12:11:28 PM
It certainly is. Well done, lovely model.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2009 11:22:13 AM
Nice and elegant i like it but i would've put a ring on her right hand.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2009 08:39:42 AM
I love this photo, although I wish you hadn't left the eyes brown - it makes her look like an alien instead of the beauty that she is
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2009 01:13:12 AM
great tones and a stunning lady 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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