Not backlight, backblack?

HybridCreations

HybridCreations

Well-known member
I'm basing this on one single shot I saw in the trailer for Capote so bear with me. I haven't seen the movie yet. In this one shot, Philip Seymour Hoffman's shadow almost looked like a pitch black backlight. It was soft-edged, jet-black and gorgeous and has inspired me to ramble about it here. It served exactly the same purpose as a backlight...separated him totally from the lighter color background and got me thinking about painting with shadows (As I read John Alton's "Painting With Light"....ohhh the irony). So I guess I'm looking for more examples of movies with beautiful shadows/blackness. Capote's on my netflix queue and I'm trying to beef up on my noir repetoire:thumbsup::cheesy: but I need more. If anybody has any suggestions or has tried doing anything like this technique themselves please, let's discuss.
-Ryan
 
Let's go way, way back in time. The original "Phantom of the Opera" used alot of shadow work. I'm talking about the Lon Chaney version. How about Hitchcock, he was a master of using shadows. It's an artform you don't hear about much lately.
 
I know right? Let's bring it back! I guess I started thinkin' about it when people were talking about doing a "Noir Fest" but I think it needs to make a comeback. Perfect timing, I've got Vertigo arriving from Netflix tomorrow. Great, I'm going to be even more fired up about it.
 
Noir lighting is very harsh. It is what gives it that awesome look. You light for a very spacific and most time small spot. The shows are what tell the story. I love noir and alot of my personal work I light in that manner. I use very spacific light and very few lights so that my shadows are rich and the contrast between light and drak is very strong. I also shoot with alot lower PED setting.
 
Hey guys found this pic it is now my desk top. It is keria Kinghetly and this is a Nior look

keira-knightley-1024x768-22094.jpg
 
That's what I'm talking about with "Phantom of the Opera". Sometimes they just follow his shadow when they are down in the catacombs (spelling) and they hit him with like 3000 watts to cast a strong shadow that is at least 50 feet high. Deeper in the catacombs they put maybe 650 watts on him to creat less shadow but it's still apparent that you can not see him "the phantom" but you know he's there.

Check out Phantom of the Opera and I mean the Lon Chaney one (the original).
 
That's why I was hoping for a Noir-themed fest this time round. It'd be interesting to see how everyone approaches this style of lighting. There's a lot of interesting things that can be done with it.
 
pmark23 said:
That's why I was hoping for a Noir-themed fest this time round. It'd be interesting to see how everyone approaches this style of lighting. There's a lot of interesting things that can be done with it.
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Make your hero movie in a Noir style. That would give it a 50s look, the hayday of some of the best super-heroes.
 
Yeah a noir super hero movie would be cool. But you would have alot trying to look like sin city.. Not that thats a bad thing. But if I where shooting one. I would almost go dick tracy noir with more color if you know what I mean.
 
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