A Step back in Time

I did a 1920's themed shoot at the weekend. I have been planning this since xmas.

It took that amount of time to get the clothes, props, suitable models and venue

together and then organise a time that suited everyone.

I then edited the photo to age it by sepia toning it and then adding textures, noise

stains and imperfections and fading it to make it look as old as possible. The idea

here was to see if I could make it as authentic as possible.

The image is meant to take the viewer to a train station waiting room where you

encounter a situation where a beautiful wealthy white woman finds herself on the

same bench as a black man as a photographer takes the shot, with the position of

the case representing the barrier between the races.

The venue I used was very challenging as it had a lot of modern graffitti and artwork

on the walls hence her open umbrella to cover some of the wall art.

Lit with a large softbox to my left angled towards the subjects and a reflected

umbrella to my right.

The image I hope gets the viewer to think about the situation and the potential story

behind the picture.

Excellent work Mark, you were successful and did take me back.

Your technique is done well, I like the imperfections applied.

Life amazes me, in music we developed a technology to render clean crisp music and dynamic audio range. I just heard a song the other day, digital but it has the pops and hiss like a record album.

The same with photography, we develop cameras and lenses that produce pristine images, still we have the desire to go back.

If you never know where we came from, you can never move forward.

I wish you utmost success of your ambitious project, Mark!

Cheers

PDE

Mark,

Interesting concept. Your work paid off, both before & after the shot. The models look good, and the image does have that old Brownie look to it.  Nicely done.

Rick

Dear Mark, thank you very much for this photo. And thanks a lot for your introducing words. That helps to see the work behind and I get an impression of your thoughts / your motivation. That´s cool. You are talking about a rail station - in this atmosphere you had a framed picture like that on the wall? I like a lot - today we don´t see it anymore - I would like to bring back this traditional beauty in our world of overloaded marketing. 

What is your idea about the bright of the right foot of the black man? Resp. the left part of the picture? Is it necessary to get the perfect impression of the twenties?

I like very much this photo and again thank you for showing it. 

Hi Felix,

thank you for  your kind words. The bright area at Ben's shoe is just mean t to show a fading due to the age of the print. As the print would deteriorate over the passing of the years no one, neither the  photographer nor the models nor the viewers would be able to prevent how the image deteriorates.

Mark.