Hurrel's lighting & retouche simulation

[fv]

Hello,

 

I'd like to try some Hurrel style portraits.

 

Do you have any ideas of the ligthing structure (sources, positions)?

Any clue for simulating the negative retouche on PS/PSE?

 

Thanks,

Francois

[tom_musselman]

Do you mean George Hurrell? You can get lots of information in the book "Hollywood Portraits" by Roger Hicks and Christopher Nisperos. There is a section on Hurrell, and several of his images are analyzed, with lighting setups shown. Good luck!

[fv]

I've just posted a first try. Don't have the book but I started from an existing pic with a classic lighting.

 

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?topic_id=1481&msg_id=00EYbY&photo_id=3959419&photo_sel_index=0

[david_m]

That was a nice photo. Hurrell used large format cameras and an army of talented retouchers. His photos owe as much to the skills of the retouchers as to his photography. He also had access to some of the most beautiful women that ever existed. Try finding anyone that looks like Norma Shearer today.

[andrewlamb]

Francois,

 

Hurrel used a large number of lights quite close to the subject. Like a lot of

photographers of the time, he would also light the subject from behind and/or

above. If you look at some of his shots you will see a very powerful highlight

just on the crown of the head.

 

He also, on occasions, diffused the lens with gauze material and, as

mentioned before, there was a high degree of sophisticated re-touching.

 

To make your photo a bit more similar in style to Hurrel's, I would humbly

suggest you use a three-quarter light behind the subject. This is just to light a

small area of her hair along with a strong but tightly focussed light source

above. Also, don't light her face quite so evenly, it's too flat for Hurrel style.

 

You need to make the whole a lot moodier and use more guaze!

 

Having said that, the photo you've taken is very nice indeed and one reason

why you don't see Hurrel type lighting now is that it's too mannered for

modern tastes. Have a look at the Vanity Fair Hollywood book. It's instructive

to see how differently film stars are lit over the decades.

 

Good luck and enjoy.

[steve_hovland]

It wasn't just lighting. It was also set and pose. Try to work in some of that.

 

Here's a takeoff of an Andre Kertecz photo, with a lighting variation of my own design :-)

[andrewlamb]

Steve,

 

I think Kertesz would be deeply flattered by your very special homage. Great

shot!

[steve_hovland]

Thanks.

[janet cull]

Steve, love it! Got a good chuckle.

[terry thomas photos]

<p>I often use that old Hollywood look when creating headshots for actors today. Grids over my Alien Bee strobes do the trick.<br>

<br />click:<br /><a href="http://terrythomasphotos.googlepages.com/headshots">http://terrythomasphotos.googlepages.com/headshots</a><br>

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