Former Sportscaster Turned Photog Is Into B&W
The photographs that came out of Hollywood in the 1930′s, from the likes of the great George Hurrell, are never to be forgotten. Shots of Bogart, Hepburn, Crawford, Cagney… every screen star of the era.But the ease of the digital era makes fewer photographers eager to take on difficult techniques.
Dallas Photographer Mark Oristano has decided to bring back those difficult but glamorous photo techniques of the 1930′s.”
“I always loved Hurrell’s work,” says portrait photographer Oristano, “and a couple of years back I studied with Michael Grecco, the great portrait photographer from L.A.Michael showed us Mole-Richardson’s and other old, constant-style lighting. When I got back home, I hit ebay and found some old lights and went to work with them.”
But to get the true effect, Oristano decided to step back from digital and return to the film camera.But this was a very special film camera.
“I have an Army Signal Corps 4×5 Speed Graphic from World War II. It’s the same model camera that Joe Rosenthal used to take the famous Iwo Jima photo.It’s well over sixty years old and it still takes great photos.A 4×5 negative gives a detail and a softness you don’t get digitally.”
The old-time look has begun to catch on in Dallas, where former sportscaster Oristano has been shooting engagement shots, senior portraits and more in the Hollywood/1935 style.
“Probably the most fun is the look on people’s faces when they see the final result.when they see their 17×22 fine art print they usually just gasp.”
The shoots take about twice as long as an average portrait session given the delicacy of the lighting.The lighting style may be simple to figure out from pictures, but it’s tough to copy on film.But with a little bit of work, you can find out how to create this 1930′s magic.
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