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Chiaroscuro: Composition Technique from the Old Masters

Chiaroscuro - Light and Shadow Contrast, a great technique to add drama to your photography


Taken from the Italian meaning of light-dark, Chiaroscuro is a term used to describe is the strong contrast between light and shadow, which adds depth and dramatic intensity to an image.


Image: Wikipedia Creative Commons


Controversial 'Old Master' painter Caravaggio, a leading Italian painter of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, became famous for his dramatic religious depictions which focused on subjects using intense lighting, deep shadows and bright highlights. Leonardo Da Vinci is also famous for his use of chiaroscuro.


Narcissus by Caravaggio - Wikipedia Creative Commons


Popular with portrait photographers, the same technique can be applied to bird photography and landscapes, to create an almost-surreal and striking effect. I like to attempt chiaroscuro when I'm shooting under the forest canopy, where there is strong light beaming into a relatively dark landscape.



Using lighting strategically to emphasise the subject and plunge parts of the scene into shadow, you can further emphasise the effect in post processing, using layer masks and vignetting - both quite simple procedures in Lightroom or most post processing platforms. I selectively darkened the background of my juvenile Whistling Kite above, creating a striking portrait.


The secret to getting this one right is to pay attention to your highlights, taking care not to over-expose the bright parts of the image. It doesn't matter if detail is lost in the dark parts of the photo, but you do want to make sure the highlights are not blown out, making them difficult to recover in post processing.


You also need the light to fall on the right part of your subject to create interest - the eye or face is an the obvious choice, but you could also choose to highlight another part of your subject to the viewer, such as detail in the plumage or the wingspan.


Although the eyes are not really visible in the below image, the identifying bands on the face of this Lewin's Honeyeater are highlighted, telling us more about which bird we are looking at. The vines in the background and the hint of a tree in the darkness also lend clues to the habitat, giving us a sense of the drama of the rainforest, without showing too much detail and making the shot cluttered - a common problem with rainforest images.


 

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Chiaroscuro really lends itself to bird of prey, adding drama to an already impressive subject. I was watching this Brahminy Kite fly across the estuary in the late afternoon and waited until he was in a sunlit area, with the darkened landscape behind, before firing off a few shots.


The original image was a little uninspiring, so I selectively darkened the background using the background masking tool in Lightroom.


The original before editing:


And after editing. After I selected the background and darkened it using Lightroom's masking tool, I then duplicated and inverted the mask (using the menu under the 3 dots next to the mask) to select the bird and trim highlights a tiny bit, and used the de-haze filter to intensify the plumage and colouring. It's not much editing but it really makes a difference, putting the focus on the beautiful tones and plumage of the Kite.



Here's another image using the same formula of selective masking - the added vibrance of the Gang Gang's colouring and the hint of the bright cotoneaster berries really making it pop:



This technique is also useful for landscapes. This scene of an old grandstand rotting away in a paddock was actually a bit of an eyesore, with lots of rubbish and junk lying around.


By shooting straight into the sun and underexposing most of the image, we're left with an impression of the charming scalloped edge and seductive lean of the structure, with just a hint of the dilapidated surroundings, instead of too much clutter distracting the eye away from the subject.


While chiaroscuro can work in colour, it really shines in black and white photography. Removing colour allows the focus to shift entirely to the play of light and shadow, further emphasising contrast and form:


Chiaroscuro photography is all about using strong contrasts between light and dark. A few more tips to help you succeed:


  • Use a single light source: A single, focused light source creates more dramatic shadows and contrasts. Unless you have something to filter the light - such as trees or the canopy, getting up early and using direct or side lit sun is your best bet.

  • Directional light: Try positioning the light source to the side of your subject rather than head-on to create shadows on the opposite side. This creates a sense of three-dimensionality and depth.

  • Deep, defined shadows: The key to chiaroscuro is the use of strong, deep shadows and a limited colour palate, so avoid using high dynamic range (HDR) settings and post processing tools.

  • Don't be afraid to lose detail: but make sure the details that are highlighted are nice and sharp and have a story-telling aspect.

  • Follow classic compositional rules, such as the rule of thirds or leading lines, to enhance the visual impact of your chiaroscuro photography.

  • Play with the negative space created by shadows to lead the viewer’s eye toward the illuminated subject.


Chiaroscuro photography is about creating a moody, emotional atmosphere by manipulating light and shadows. Focus on controlled, directional lighting, allow shadows to define the scene, and use minimal light to emphasise form and texture. Post-processing can help enhance the dramatic contrast inherent to this style.







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