Assignment: Film Noir" April 21 - May 5

[Saralonde]

This week's assignment: "Film Noir", French for "black film". This will probably be a more difficult assignment that will require much more preparation because mood as well as lighting are important aspects as well as creating a story. I put some places for you to check out below, but you might want to google to find even more. You might even want to start with a story in mind as you prepare for your shot. Here is Wikipedia's definition:

"Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography. Many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hardboiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Depression."

Think of old movies, such as The Maltese Falcon" or relatively new ones like "Sin City".

Some good reading on the subject:
Strobist and here
flickr group
One photographer's method
Sample images
Film Noir Glossary

If you find some good sites on the subject, feel free to post them in this thread so we can all learn more.

I have to put up my example a bit later. Some medical issues in my family this week, among them my model (daughter) was sick, and then she passed it on to me. I definitely have not been feeling like using my camera for the past few days .

To help you along, try visiting a few examples, including this wonderful set by jareddimartine on flickr.
As always, rules:

Just a note to new posters: DO NOT start a new thread for your post. Please just hit the reply button at the bottom of any current post and put your image there.

1. Your original image you submit should be taken between the 21st of April and the 5th of May. Each week as an assignment closes on the Wednesday, it will be AUTOMATICALLY deemed *CLOSED* after 8am GMT ( 3am EST) and any posts after that time will not be eligible for the assignment competition. Don't wait until the last minute to post!

2. Your post must include B]"Film Noir"[/B] (to show your permission to count it for the contest) and the date the picture was taken (to show that it is a valid entry).

3. EXIF data should be intact. It helps if you can include the main points (including camera, lens, date taken, ISO, shutter speed and aperture) in the text of your message.

4. Only one entry per member (if you can't restrain yourself until the end of the first week you can post two or three separate pictures but your entry should be in a separate post and the only marked with the text above). It must be an original image taken by you.

5. Remember the cross-site image size limit (740px on the longest side). (If it's wider than the image above, it's disqualified)

6. If the image does not exist in post at the end of the contest, it is disqualified. If you modify anything on flickr and re-save the image then the link is broken and the message needs edited to link the picture again before it will be included in the contest.
For everyone, please do not repeat other people's photos by quoting them until the contest is over. If you want to comment on or discuss an entry you can use a link to it (or just delete the picture from the quoted text).

7. If you are looking for the winners of the mini-contest, please check the front page of the DPS blog Saturday late afternoon (EST) and here.

Next week: "Toys" After a difficult assignment like "Film Noir", we need a little time to remember our childhood and play a bit. Do you have a loved toy from your past or do your children have a favorite? Tap into your inner child this week!

[Photoboothguy]

This assignment is awesome. I'm totally going to take a lot more of these type of shots.

Lighting was fun. The background was created by firing a flash through a crappy yarn blanket (lots of holes). Another flash was fired from above and to the right, creating the shadow across my face. A third flash was directly over the gun. Post processing in Lightroom to change to B&W and make minor edits.

Exif Stuff:
Date Taken: April 27, 2010
Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T1i
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 39 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Lens: Sigma 24-70 f2.8

[Saralonde]

Thanks for the information about your lighting, which is a very important element about taking an effective film noir shot. Even if you don't have off camera flash, ghetto type lighting can be used to help create the mood.

[lili]

Here she is...

The background is an overhead projector with a cutout for the knife silhouette. I lighted myself from underneath. Took the shot via remote. Added text with Corel Paint.



Camera: Nikon D50
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 40 mm
ISO Speed: 1250
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash
Date: April 25, 2010

[Sweedon]

I actually took this image on April 21st prior to knowing the next assignment was Film Noir. However, I do think it is still a learning experience as I would not have recognized this as Film Noir if it were not for the assignment... I think it's Film Noir??? lol...

So since it falls within the required dates I decided to post it.

Camera: Canon EOS 50D
Exposure: 0.3
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 33 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: +1/3 EV
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE
Date and Time (Original): 2010:04:21 09:34:48-04:00

[sunmallia]

sunmallia as Mary Astor, as Miss Ruth Wonderly




EXIF DATA
Taken April 26, 2010
Camera: Pentax K20D
Exposure: 0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[Jamie Hickey]

Originally Posted by sunmallia

sunmallia as Mary Astor, as Miss Ruth Wonderly

EXIF DATA
Taken April 26, 2010
Camera: Pentax K20D
Exposure: 0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

Very nice work!

[LenDog]

"Au Revoir"



Used all natural light from the window, otherwise the room was completely darkened to keep the ISO high to get a gritty appearance. Adjustments in LR included greyscale conversion, exposure, recovery, highlights lights and darks, and a custom crop.

Date Taken: 27 April 2010
Camera: Sony @330
Lens: Tamron 17-50mm
Exposure Program: Manual
Focal Length: 17mm
Shutter Speed: 1/400
Aperture: F/2.8
ISO: 1600
Flash: Off, did not fire

[hawthorne17]

This was hard! I am not a flash type person, so I had to really stretch myself with this one. Plus, I put on red lipstick and it stains my lips! This was an awesome challenge, I am planning on doing more like this. I know the camera is one decade off for this style but I love it and really wanted to use it!

Camera Model: NIKON D80
Date Taken: 2010:04:24 21:12:12
Exposure Time: 1/60 sec.
ISO Speed Rating: 500
Flash Fired: Flash fired, auto mode, return light not detected, red-eye reduction mode
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
Focal Length: 44.0 mm
Software: GIMP 2.6.7
Aperture: f/5.0

I used a Speedlight SB-600 off low and to the side.
PP- crop, bw conversion, adjusted contrast.

[GwenieThePooh]

DARK ALLEY



EXIF:
Camera: Nikon D50
Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/3.3
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Auto, Fired, Red-eye reduction, Return detected
Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0 Windows
Date and Time (Original): 2010:04:22 12:26:30.20-07:00
Date and Time (Digitized): 2010:04:22 12:26:30