What is the Film Noir Look ?

[raytoei@gmail.com]

Hi,

I was doing some poking around and I came across the "Film Noir Look", so what is it? I googled around here and on the net, and looking at the movie stills, (here), the film noir look seem to exhibit the following characteristics (please correct me):

* really black shadows (i.e. not too much gradation)
* highlights that are contrasty
* Mixed opinion on the Smooth look or a little grainy look

So, how does one achieve the film noir look ? More poking around the net, it seems to suggests:

* Low ISO film gives really smooth black on black look
* Neopan 1600 gives the contrasty look and lack shadows


I also read this interesting article by Jay Abend who advocates exposing Tri-x at 1/2 a stop more and developing it in Microdol-x.

Any suggestions on achieving the Film Noir look ?

raytoei

 

[xayraa33]

"Any suggestions on achieving the Film Noir look ?"

photograph wet city streets at night that are streetlight lit and/or maybe lit with a neon sign or two, no flash.
A femme fatale in the photo would be icing on the cake.

 

[Keith]

Most black and white films if you push them a stop or two transition to this look!

100 pushed to 400 ISO is ideal IMO ... if that's what you're after!

 

[shyoon]

First thing that came to mind when I saw this thread was Helen Hill. Her shots taken at night are superb.

 

[dovi]

maybe this

maybe this

hp5 @200 overdeveloped

 

[dovi]

Or this-

Or this-

 

[mackigator]

Spot meter.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I see many people have many ideas about what "Film Noir" means.

Google and Wikipedia to the rescue:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_noir

 

[Ducky]

+1 for Helen's stuff.

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Another vote for Helen's night photography...

Helmut Newton was the first thing to come into my mind.

 

[Jaans]

hp5 @200 overdeveloped

Great photo. I really like the gradation from black to white. I am curious - what developer did you use for this? cheers

 

[Renzsu]

delta 400 @ 1600

tri-x (box speed)

hm, my most film-noir-ish shots, I've posted them around before but thought they'd fit the description.

 

[MPerson]

Helen = doubleplusgood.

 

[Sparrow]

I always thought the Film Noir bit refereed to the nature of the narrative and plot, rather than the cinematography

 

[Andy Kibber]

Neopan 1600 does the trick. Shoot at night.

 

[johannielscom]

Most black and white films if you push them a stop or two transition to this look!

100 pushed to 400 ISO is ideal IMO ... if that's what you're after!

I like that, I got loads of Delta100Pro on bulk.

Exposing as 400 is easy, but what should I use as a development scheme when developing in Rodinal? Anybody got any experience with that?

I have an amateur shoot in the forest coming up this afternoon, could bring an extra camera to try this

 

[fixbones]

++++1 for Helen's work.
I think Film noir is more than just shadows, highlights and somewhat lack of gradations.
The style and photographic vision itself will need to impart a very dark, heavy and moody ambience..... i think anyways

 

[tj01]

night shots and Ilford filter #4

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

based on the above, I'll add one more:

* nite shots with long dark shadows

Delta 3200 with HC110, on the CL and Canon f1.9 collapsible.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

One more pix, also Delta 3200.