Noir is one of the popular photography styles. Translated from French, “noir” means “black, raw, dark”, so the dark shots are reminiscent of shots from crime films of the 60s. The images are filled with emotion that creates ominous shadows and deep imagery. And all thanks to the specific lighting, contrast, and composition. Moreover, such photos are of two types:
- film-noir;
- neo-noir.
The former belongs to the era of Hollywood film dramas and thrillers of the 40s/50s of the last century. They are characterized by an atmosphere of fatality, black and white, sepia and graininess.
Photos of the second type have replaced the classical genre. They are colored and have a vivid visual picture. But how do you achieve a noir effect with minimal effort? We reveal the simple secrets of stunning pictures.
Technique #1: Add Dramatic Lighting With Contrasts and Shadows
The first step to creating a dark and emotional image is to adjust the light. You need to start with intense backlighting of the background. After that, you need to direct the fill light to the main subject. This technique will provide high optical contrast.
Don’t have professional equipment? No problem! I will help out because you can do good noir photography without it. It is enough to replace the studio spotlight with the headlights of the car. Have a helper spray fog or smoke in the background for the most dramatic effect.
Technique #2: Use Side Lighting for Portraits
A bright beam from the side creates dramatic shadows and shows the true depth of the image. Its trajectory changes the picture a lot. Moreover, “from the side” is not necessarily just the right or the left. Sometimes it’s about moving the light source diagonally or moving it back a little.
Experiment with how the bright spot wanders across the subject’s face and adjust the light accordingly. Concentrate on the amount of shadows and highlights.
Technique #3: Invite Friends to Portray Movie Characters
The best way to create authentic neo-noir or film-noir photos is to incorporate the acting talent of your models into the process. The people you are filming must immerse themselves in the dark atmosphere so that it can be read on their faces, even without the visual effects.
Noir characters are always mysterious: their appearance reflects the mysterious events of the past, about which no one knows. A great example of such a character is the Joker, played by Joaquin Phoenix. The audience unravels the reason for his departure into darkness throughout the film. This is a fantastic piece of neo-noir, presented in modern ways.
Technique #4: Simulate a Multi-Speaking Scene
To get a great shot, you need to work not only with the camera and lighting settings but also with the surrounding background. How? You should use techniques that will enhance the contrast between the key subject and the shooting location. For this, various combinations of the lighting methods described above are suitable. Learn to manipulate them correctly, and then you will be able to strengthen and then capture the dramatic mood.
Create a scene with lots of darkened corners and elements. Your goal is to emphasize the central silhouette with an original setting. The main thing is to place the model or object so that it looks as harmonious as possible in a noir setting.
For example, suppose you have a fatal female heroine smoking a cigarette in her car. Everything that surrounds her should tell a story and complement the key image. A dimly lit street will set the tone for gloom and drama: an empty road, a starry night, a lonely lantern surrounded by gray walls of houses. In short, look for hidden connections, avoid stage inconsistencies between your character and the setting.
Technique #5: Edit Neo-Noir and Film-Noir Photos
The beauty of these photos is that the lighting, subject, and background do most of the work for you. Despite this, they can be improved manually using professional advice.
â–º First, adjust the color balance. Begin with the emotion you intend to convey. If you are not shooting in black and white, increase the saturation of the main palette. To understand how and how much, simply answer the question: what exactly do you want to emphasize in the image?
â–º Second, lower the contrast. This is one of the most important steps in photo noir editing. They often contrast because of the shadows that have to be accentuated to make them look natural. Would you like to turn a photo into a frame from a 60s film of the last century? Then make it muted.
â–º Third, use vignetting. This technique allows you to concentrate on the subject. If you notice that it gets lost in the surrounding background, use a subtle vignette effect. A little trick will bring your subject back into focus and draw attention away from the background.
The cinematic approach to photography has evolved over the years. Today, noir photography is an incredible genre that every photographer must get to know. If not for a serious photo shoot, then at least for a personal experiment with light and shadow.
