Film Noir Style

anonymouscuban

Despite feeling like crap with a sore throat and a slight fever, I went out late last night with this couple to shoot some Film Noir-style shots. This was the couple that hired me to do their engagement shots. You may remember them. We were out till around 11PM last night shooting in some alleys in Pasadena. Had a blast and got some great shots.

I couldn't wait so I did a quick edit of one shot that jumped out at me. Three versions of it... full color, B&W, and a desaturated. I think I have a strong preference for the full color. I did this edit late last night so it may not be 100%.

Loved to hear you all think since I've never done anything like this and suggestions on the edit, if any:

1 - Color


2 - B&W


3 - Desaturated

Hackbone

These are super neat!!!!!

Sam

Owooo, New stuff for you, and well done!!!

Sam

Bilsen

Beautiful work and the B&W is so spot on it's insane

Eia

Wow awesome. I prefer the b/w and desaturated in keeping with the theme! The color is nice too...with a modern feel.

Qarik

okay here goes..

1) for this kind of stuff I don't want them looking a the camera at all
2) I like the BW and desat the best
3) the light would work better if it were more "street light"ie rounder and more harsh and more from above
4) too much negative space for me as well

Agnieszka

Very cool!

EphTwoEight

Awesome! Especially the B&W, and like Qarik said, maybe if the light appeared higher up like a street light. But otherwise, perfect exposure, neat feel.

Mike J

Finally - something other than your buxom wife.:D

BW for me. Might even go a little harsher in the treatment in post. Since this is a portrait of them, the connection with the camera works for me. I agree with Qarik on the light though - rounder, harsher, and smaller light on their faces to either mimic or streetlight up high or a light outside the door on the other side of the alley.

EphTwoEight

I dont know now. The more I look at it, the more I like it the way it is. The BG light is great, and the light on them is just right, PLUS I see no distracting shadows. I think this is just fantastic. Sure it'd been cool had there been an old street light hanging there, but its better than 99% of most picture-takers in the added effort of using OCL.

anonymouscuban

Thanks for all the comments guys. I've been laid up in bed with a fever since I made this post.

I shot this with a 30° honeycomb grid on an AB800 with the standard 7" reflector. I had it as high up as possible on a 10' stand. Couldn't get it any higher. I'm pretty happy though. I was really concerned that this was going to be a disaster since I was shooting handheld and didn't know if I would be able to get enough ambient exposed to make these work. It was pretty dark out.

anonymouscuban

BTW, here is another shot.