The shoot style and processing here is inspired by Chiaroscuro, a painting technique which stormed Europe before the Renaissance. Channeling my inner Rembrandt, I chose to focus more on story and psychological intensity as opposed to technics. I used one source of overpowering light (mostly the sun, or when the clouds came, one hidden Speedlight flash) and contrasted it with the shadows and abrasions of the ruins. It's the contrast and shadows, I feel, that make this set more foreboding. Things that I would normally remove, like bags under the eyes, remain in to stay true to style. And without a real fill light, we achieve a flatness authentic to pre-Renaissance art.
DISCLAIMER: Now, the dark and light contrast doesn't work in ALL of the photos, and I'll be the first to admit the deviation. Or...evolution, as I should call it. (Google "chiaroscuro" for the real thing) If you want real Either way, I hope you like what's posted here. :)
Thanks goes out to my model, Kayla (with makeup by her) and my assistant Troi. Great job, folks!
