Black Widow series. How to achieve a sculpture/painting like shots? Here is what I do
Added 2023-03-05 12:59:13 +0000 UTCToday I wanted to talk a little about achieving a sculpture looking like shots. What makes it look so dramatic? To me there are 4 components that I instantly can think of: 1. The light 2. Posing 3. Face expressions or the actual absence of face features at all 4. Details
These frames were shot with one source of light (led lamp from amazon, nothing fancy, about $70 + tripod). I typically place my light at 45 degrees angle from me to achieve painting looking like shadows and depth. Sometimes I do place one more light behind me, however, never from both sides. It would create a studio looking like light with a cleaner on shadows look, I am trying to avoid that at all cost
Next, face expressions. If you look at paintings or sculptures you would notice how either peaceful or, on opposite, dramatic their faces look. There is no in between, it's either a peace or fear, anger. No seducing faces, nothing provocative. Classic artists always kept their subjects looking their most angelic, at peaceful stage. Phorogaphers who seek to shoot a painting like series, in my opinion, have to select their models accordingly. Not every model would suit this role, as there androgen looking models thee are renaissance looking models accordingly.
Poses and details. I've spoken about poses earlier in my other articles. However, I shall say again that nothing beats sculpture poses. I never look for references on purpose but classic art was a big part of my life since I attended a music school, I observed those poses and project them to my art. As still as they look, it's a 'stop frame' from potential movement. Dropping the dress off the shoulder, stretching arms to Zeus, laying on the ground as a defeated titan, you name it.
Last but not least, my black paint was symbolizing darkness that takes over us, we all live with it, it comes and it goes but it's always around. I fall into abyss of it. There is often an idea of some sort of internal struggle of the main character, embracing it helps your story telling, you want to tell a story about you or your character.
Hope to hear your thoughts. As usual, love you all and thank you for supporting my art.
