W/NW Chiaroscuro

[Austerby]

Hmm... lots of lovely photos but they're not all of them what I'd call Chiaroscuro, which Wikipedia defines as characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for using contrasts of light to achieve a sense of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects such as the human body.

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[Roger Hicks]

For some more on definitions, plus a bit on why chiaroscuro as perceived by the eye can't aways be captured photographically, try: http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps chiaroscuro 1.html . To quote:

Chiaroscuro is borrowed from the Italian. It comes from two words, 'chiaro' (clear) and 'oscuro' (obscured), though it is normally (and very unsatisfactorily) translated as 'light and shadow'. It originated as a characteristic style of painting that relies on dramatic contrasts of light and shade. It evolved rapidly in the 17th century: Caravaggio (1573-1610) is normally held up as the first master to use it; Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) further developed the technique, and gave his name to the style when used in photography ('Rembrandt lighting'); and Wright of Derby (Joseph Wright, 1734-1797) arguably took it further than anyone else.

Cheers,

R.

 

[malcD]

 

[jbielikowski]

Roger, fantastic read about chiaroscuro, thank you!

 

[ottluuk]

 

[leica M2 fan]

Paul, I was browsing here and saw this picture of a child in a high chair and without looking to see whose photo I said to myself That is Paul! I know it can't be but the resemblance is uncanny. Good photo too.

 

[wray]

 

[peterm1]

The following might just qualify too although not quite as shadowy as some........................................

 

[surfer dude]

 

[peterm1]

 

[rbsinto]

I'll play.
motorized Nikon F with eyelevel meterless DE-1 prism
Nikkor 180 2.8 ED AIS manual focus
Fuji 100 ISO colour slide

 

[ThomasM]

I by InvertedImage, on Flickr

 

[Greyscale]

048_4 by Greyscale3, on Flickr

 

[__jc]

 

[__jc]

 

[Jack Conrad]

 

[Ronald_H]

The dark side of Laurence by Ronald_H, on Flickr

 

[airfrogusmc]

 

[Hiyawaan]

Self Portrait

Self Portrait

[URL=http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/A_Hiyawaan/media/Self-Portrait-jan-1-2009.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[John E Earley]