A Glow Project

[reagan]

I've recently been reading/researching a particular look which I admire in some photographs ... called "the Glow." One thread offered here about a year ago referred to and discussed this article about Glow ~ quite interesting. Here's the thread started by Russ which I thought to be a good read. Todd Hanz attached here one of several nice examples in that thread.

I'd be interested in seeing some other recent photos that could be posted here by RFFers inclined to going out and premeditatedly duplicating the Glow look. Of particular concern would be the details ~ camera, lens, film, settings, lighting, methods, etc. Any subject would be welcome.

If it would be of some interest to you in contributing here, either now or in the future, you might subscribe to this thread as I will and just check back from time to time and post at your own leisure. Then we won't have to place any time limit or keep bumping it up to keep track. Just an idea.

Have fun! Thanks.

C,etc.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

This could be a pretty good project, I think the lighting I had was "kitchen flourecent". I think as far as lighting goes a non-direct or difused light contributes to the glow as much as a low-contrast lens does.

Todd

 

[reagan]

I think as far as lighting goes a non-direct or difused light contributes to the glow as much as a low-contrast lens does. Todd

I concluded the same in several photo examples I've seen. One I recall (can't remember where) seemed to be outside, but heavy overcast.

Defused light on the subject with a darker background, as in your shot, really makes a nice photo.

Thanks Todd.

 

[RayPA]

Didn't someone recently post a PS method for acheiving "the glow"?

🙂

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

404 Error pages are hardly what I think of when I think of "The Glow", but I think I know what article you're talking about. It's pretty interesting, and I think it's the main reason why those Takumar lenses are a little higher in price today than they were about three years ago.

I believe that more has to be read into it: it's not the lens or the paper, it's your choice of tools, and knowing how to create your photograph, through the whole cycle. Many people concentrate on a film, or on a lens, or on a paper, on a brand, on a filter...everything is part of a whole.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Didn't someone recently post a PS method for acheiving "the glow"?

🙂

That's a different glow. There's the Leica glow, the Gaussian glow, the radioactive glow, the boy-you-just-scored glow, the electron-stream-through-a-tube-of-neon glow, etc. etc. etc. 😉

 

[RayPA]

That's a different glow. There's the Leica glow, the Gaussian glow, the radioactive glow, the boy-you-just-scored glow, the electron-stream-through-a-tube-of-neon glow, etc. etc. etc. 😉

Oooh...THAT glow...a different glow 😕 don't pregnant women glow, too? 😉 Don't all good lenses "glow" near wide open? Thanks, GMA (btw, your site looks great).

🙂

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Well, let's not go there, Ray 😉

What C is refering to is the Luminous Landscape article's reference to a certain quality some pictures have; it's something that's a certain luminosity, for lack of a better synonym (and thesaurus) and feel certain photographs have. That look may be achieved by the PS action you mentioned, but that action still gives a rather artificial feel if you don't know exactly how that is achieved in the "real" (i.e. wet) darkroom.

(and thanks! -- still working on the site on the little time I have: I am using my free time right now to finish selecting the pictures for Nov. 18)

 

[taffer]

I'm a fan of Todd's smooth tonalities which seem to be present in all his shots, someday he has to tell me that secret 😀

In that specific shot, I think that also adds a lot to the whole 'glow' thing.

Btw, where's Russ these days ¿? 😕

 

[reagan]

Taffer's mention of "smooth tonalities" is a good description. Low contrast subjects in evenly defused lighting, as Todd mentioned, seems to help accomplish this.

And yeah, even the freebee downloaded Picasa2 image handling program has a "glow" button you can click on. While I do like that digital effect, it's not really what I had in mind here.

Enjoying the discussion guys. Thanks.

Radioactive glow. hmmmm.... maybe next project.... for FSU lenses.