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People At The Opera: stunning photography in low light
blog.photoshelter.com — Bill Henson: "My work is all done in the traditional manner in the darkroom; there's no digital technology in there mainly because I do not find it useful for my work."
lazycat- 1559 diggs
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- controltheweb, on 05/08/2008, -6/+18Really some inspirational (for photographers) and beautiful stuff here.
- DeskFlyer, on 05/08/2008, -1/+36Old school photography FTW. Man, if I ever tried using traditional film and a darkroom my photos would probably turn out like something out of a Rorschach inkblot test.
- Fixthemedia, on 05/08/2008, -4/+5Well you sure do prove you dont know how film works. It would not likely turn out like an inkblot test. Developing/printing film is actually pretty easy once you get the steps down. You may not always get a perfect print, but its not hard to get a decent one. Dont overexpose your film and you should be fine :).
- Avaseal, on 05/08/2008, -0/+4I only did 1 semester of photography but I had a blast. True once you get the steps down and develop a couple rolls its actually pretty easy. The materials start to get a little expensive though, and I'd say it's worth the money for the end product, but if you've never done it then I highly recommend taking a class on "old-school" photography
- PopcornDave, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2For black and white film it's surprisingly easy. I was doing that back when I was 8 years old. What was really fun was taking the photopaper and bending it to acheive odd effects. Bending it in a U shape produced an interesting fade out from the center - similar to what a circular gradient is in Photoshop.
I never did any color film work because you do have to watch your timing a lot more carefully. IIRC, you have to start timing from when you start pouring the chemicals in while b/w is much more forgiving.
- PopcornDave, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2For black and white film it's surprisingly easy. I was doing that back when I was 8 years old. What was really fun was taking the photopaper and bending it to acheive odd effects. Bending it in a U shape produced an interesting fade out from the center - similar to what a circular gradient is in Photoshop.
- Avaseal, on 05/08/2008, -0/+4I only did 1 semester of photography but I had a blast. True once you get the steps down and develop a couple rolls its actually pretty easy. The materials start to get a little expensive though, and I'd say it's worth the money for the end product, but if you've never done it then I highly recommend taking a class on "old-school" photography
- NoValidTitle, on 05/08/2008, -0/+3Yeah it's not hard. It's actually quite fun to work in a dark room. Loading 35mm on those spools in the pitch black room is sometimes a bitch though.
- PopcornDave, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1It's not that hard, you just close your eyes and go. I always used the double zip bag where it's blacked out inside and you put your hands in. Once you do it a few times, it's no big deal.
- PolarBearCa, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2Ha! Try it with 110 film!
Ahh, the early 80s were such fun...
- crashingechelon, on 05/24/2008, -0/+1I learned doing photographs that way at first using traditional film and a darkroom. I just recently went digital with getting a Nikon DSLR. The end result of film is so much better than digital and the clarity is uncanny. It's just that at this day and age doing everything in film isn't feasible so I had to get a digital.
Plus I can experiment more with camera settings and not waste rolls and rolls of film.
- Fixthemedia, on 05/08/2008, -4/+5Well you sure do prove you dont know how film works. It would not likely turn out like an inkblot test. Developing/printing film is actually pretty easy once you get the steps down. You may not always get a perfect print, but its not hard to get a decent one. Dont overexpose your film and you should be fine :).
- KingLeo, on 05/08/2008, -7/+9They all look bored or sleepy. Nice pics though.
- teambosun, on 05/08/2008, -2/+6wtf are you supposed to do at an opera; stand up and cheer?
- inigomntoya, on 05/08/2008, -1/+4There are actually more awake/alert people in there than I thought there would be...
Lots of shiny diamonds too! - TommyBoy919, on 05/08/2008, -1/+2Funny, those are the two things I experience whenever I'm forced to sit through an opera :o)
- jimbo100, on 05/08/2008, -0/+0it's an opera...
- PopcornDave, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1Sort of reminded me of vampires with those pale faces and the bright lipstick.
- displacednomad, on 05/08/2008, -0/+14#6 - Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me.
- NitrousFlare, on 05/08/2008, -4/+60Snooty
- BeforeSputnik, on 05/08/2008, -1/+11a number of them are literally looking down their noses at us.
- wezman2, on 05/08/2008, -7/+2I truly believe it is all of you that are being 'snooty', 'pretentious' etc. Stereotyping those that go to the opera. Looking down on them through your monitor. They are not looking down their noses, the photographer is positioned below them.
- freshyill, on 05/08/2008, -4/+10They're still rich white people. Not only that, but they're bored to tears even when they're wearing their biggest bling and fanciest clothes while doing the richest thing they can think of.
They're all bored because they'd rather be on their private islands hunting men for sport.- über, on 05/08/2008, -0/+4+1 for making a "Most Dangerous Game" reference.
- kenplaysviola, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2And most of these people at the Opera and symphony hall just fall asleep. They are just there to look cultured and show off their new earrings and dresses.
- PopcornDave, on 05/08/2008, -1/+1Have you actually been to the opera or symphony lately? Perhaps those pictures were shot in NY, but in San Francisco people don't dress up the same way to go to those events anymore. I've seen people in jeans and t-shirts attending.
Sure there are the society snobs, but there are regular people too. - wezman2, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2Thank you, PopcornDave
- PopcornDave, on 05/08/2008, -1/+1Have you actually been to the opera or symphony lately? Perhaps those pictures were shot in NY, but in San Francisco people don't dress up the same way to go to those events anymore. I've seen people in jeans and t-shirts attending.
- freshyill, on 05/08/2008, -4/+10They're still rich white people. Not only that, but they're bored to tears even when they're wearing their biggest bling and fanciest clothes while doing the richest thing they can think of.
- geoffg, on 05/08/2008, -5/+0I don't know who's more pretentious, the people in these photos or the ***** libtards in these comments.
- freshyill, on 05/08/2008, -0/+3Go back to your private island and shoot some people.
- Sucka27, on 05/08/2008, -15/+4Forgot the pic of me yawning, bored out of my GD mind.
- DeskFlyer, on 05/08/2008, -2/+7Google Britney Spears, should be right down your alley.
- noseeme, on 05/08/2008, -0/+53Wow, these pictures reminded me of how horrible the contrast ratio on my laptop monitor is.
- CTK14A, on 05/08/2008, -1/+24...is that Abe Vigoda?
- packman86, on 05/08/2008, -2/+3"the guy from The Godfather"
- WrldsWrstDigger, on 05/08/2008, -0/+3Fish from Barney Miller!!!!
- Heavypettingzoo, on 05/08/2008, -9/+19Oh god, I can feel the boredom through the internet... to each their own I suppose.
- raeshao, on 05/08/2008, -10/+1Aren't they a bit overdressed to surf digg in a dark room?
- dannytehmanny, on 05/08/2008, -9/+3godfather..............
need i say more- Soave, on 05/08/2008, -0/+7Yes. Explain please.
- skippyoh, on 05/08/2008, -5/+10These are gorgeous. The man has talent.
- Fixthemedia, on 05/08/2008, -2/+3Please explain your comment? Im glad you like it, but i would also like to hear what it is that made you like them.
- nerdherder, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2The fact that they are gorgeous?
- skippyoh, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2For one thing the lighting is awesome. It looks like he spent a lot of time processing these to get them right. I also love how dramatic the portraits are..reminds me of old Hollywood.
- Fixthemedia, on 05/08/2008, -2/+3Please explain your comment? Im glad you like it, but i would also like to hear what it is that made you like them.
- gotcheaprice, on 05/08/2008, -5/+1I don't use editing either... I just moved from film to digital recently so I haven't really haven't got used to it, but ultimately I'm just lazy.
Great pics though- darny, on 05/08/2008, -0/+7darkroom = old school editing. the old men photoshopped too.
- wawul, on 05/08/2008, -6/+4Doesn't that remind you of the Victorian dead people photographs we saw earlier today? It's a dying art.... and maybe that's a good thing.
- BuryObama, on 05/08/2008, -8/+54Great pics of bored, rich, white people.
- atticus8, on 05/08/2008, -0/+10Hell, I get video of about the same thing pumped into my house for free. They call it "CSPAN".
- Kumaku, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1HI-OOOOO!!
- atticus8, on 05/08/2008, -0/+10Hell, I get video of about the same thing pumped into my house for free. They call it "CSPAN".
- lazersailer, on 05/08/2008, -22/+1I'm not gonna tell a lie, they left some out. Here are the rest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU
- Barclay1188, on 05/08/2008, -0/+3I'm not gonna lie, that was a lame attempt.
- Soave, on 05/08/2008, -0/+4Who says "I'm not gonna lie, *objective fact*"? That's not how you use that phrase.
- b0rna, on 05/08/2008, -0/+3and who links youtube to photography?
- ShempRider, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1...with a link ending with "uuiU".
- b0rna, on 05/08/2008, -0/+3and who links youtube to photography?
- tahcoboy, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2yeah....I saw it coming, better luck next time.
- legendxx, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2FAIL
- RudeCommentGuy, on 05/08/2008, -11/+2Hardly "stunning" More like "pooooooooo..."
- InsaneOni, on 05/08/2008, -4/+2Amazing Photography, I really wish I had the space for my own darkroom.
- djpray2k, on 05/08/2008, -1/+2#4 - I'd hit that
- fantasticjon, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2#1. The top one is hot, in a rich elegant way.
- Llanowar, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1#5 - You'd hit that.
- ryanhayn, on 05/08/2008, -6/+1Opera...people dressed nicely...hahahahaaa (lol)
- DuxDucis, on 05/08/2008, -1/+3It sucks that digital photography is still pretty terrible for taking pictures in ultra-low light settings - you just can't beat film (yet).
- ala00ska, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1Not really true with the new sensors they are coming out with. Canon has been using CMOS sensors for a while and Nikon is throwing them into their cameras too. I love shooting theater and I can get the same effects with the D300 that I shoot with.
- jessi74, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2I'm afraid you're quite wrong on this account. Digital has had a sensitivity advantage over film for quite awhile. The D3 can shoot perfectly serviceable images at ISO 6400 or 12800, whereas most print film is topping out at 1600 with much more grain. To get the look here you'd expose a bit more than these are to get a brighter image in-camera, then use curves to crush the blacks down to this. Selective dodging and burning would emphasize whatever part of the image you want.
- Jpesci, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1Yeah, only at the highest end on price
- Thwoar, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2I'm wondering who's going to be brave enough to point out Bill Henson's other equally brilliant work, in spite of the fact that most of his other series involve nude underage models? ...I'm not, but if you google "Bill Henson" you will find some exquisite, albeit NSFW images.
- BeforeSputnik, on 05/08/2008, -0/+3thanks for the tip, a giggidy goo.
- Thwoar, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1*laughs* Yeah, I was kinda expecting that. :-)
Still, try ditching the preconceptions and check out the images. I think it says a lot that Bill can spend most of his life shooting that sort of subject matter, and STILL make a strong claim to the title of Australia's most respected photographer.
- Thwoar, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1*laughs* Yeah, I was kinda expecting that. :-)
- Llanowar, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1And out of nowhere Bill Henson is the most searched person on google today.
- BeforeSputnik, on 05/08/2008, -0/+3thanks for the tip, a giggidy goo.
- zer0hour, on 05/08/2008, -0/+3Something is terribly wrong with the one 6th down (i think).
http://blog.photoshelter.com/image/opera15.jpg- timmyallen, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1must be shopped /sarcasm
- inigomntoya, on 05/08/2008, -0/+3That is what I thought too - like some lonely 15 year old kid about to plant one on the school's librarian...
- zer0hour, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1haha, exactly
- renison, on 05/08/2008, -0/+3Reminds me of paintings by Caravaggio or many Dutch Renaissance artists such as van Honthorst and ter Brugghen with a dramatic effect of black.
- 0akley, on 05/08/2008, -2/+6first 2 pics are amazing! the rest are kinda *****
- RedMoonGenie, on 05/08/2008, -1/+4Beautiful photography. I love the juxtaposition in #2 of the smooth, young skin of the androgenous figure on the left with the weathered old man on the left. Youthful curiousity contrasted with mature solemnity. Also, the emotion on #3's face is so touching--- it's beautiful what people will betray with their faces when they don't realize someone is watching.
- RedMoonGenie, on 05/08/2008, -0/+2Correction. The old man is on the right.
- darny, on 05/08/2008, -1/+2Heeeeey! Save it for flickr.
- airfull, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1dugg for photoshelter!
- anewname, on 05/08/2008, -1/+5"la la la lala la la la" *CLICK - WHIRRRRRRRR* "la la la"
- Bmarofsky, on 05/08/2008, -9/+1Buried as lame- Why do they have to make good pictures look CG and ruin them?
- doctordbx, on 05/08/2008, -3/+0I've been to Opera twice... never again.
- Shakermaker, on 05/08/2008, -1/+33"there's no digital technology in there mainly because I do not find it useful for my work"
Read as: "I have no idea how to use a computer".- Intamin, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1Yet it looks so much like DOOM 3. Something's up...
- j0hnk377y, on 05/08/2008, -3/+6Stunningly boring.
- Bizarrkley, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1Couldn't agree more. A lame attempt at "artistic" expression. Take a good photo of something worthwhile. My two pennies...
- daizaru, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1Agreed, I mean they are "neat looking" I suppose in the color contrast but they are people posing which just isn't my thing.
The one with the old man is visually nice but the rest are kinda blah to me.
- uptwolait, on 05/08/2008, -3/+16I never liked Opera. I'll stick with Firefox instead.
- Chadbr0chill17, on 05/08/2008, -4/+2Stunning? More like... not good.
- l800LEMMINGS, on 05/08/2008, -0/+6looks like a bunch of people all of which have condescending stares
- jakobrowning, on 05/08/2008, -2/+7pretension at its finest.
- Defuser, on 05/08/2008, -1/+0Yes folks, remember that anything you're too ignorant/inbred to appreciate is "pretentious".
- Ouroborus69, on 05/08/2008, -2/+8Nice and somewhat average pictures, but they're not "low light". As the photographer states in the article (which I'm sure the poster and most commenters did not read), it's all about darkroom manipulation. These were shot on film. Remember film? Ever hear of "burning and shading?" Sheesh. Note to Diggers: You're not all that.
- sambapati87, on 05/08/2008, -1/+1thank you
- atticus8, on 05/08/2008, -1/+2I'll be happy being some of that. And speaking of which, didja get that thing I sentcha?
- pablo0713, on 05/08/2008, -1/+1Yes, burning/shading. Big deal! This is a basic tool in any half way decent digital imaging application. You're a moron if you think people who don't use film don't know about traditional film/developing concepts. You can do that in Photoshop with a mouse and even better with a digital tablet. Move along....nothing great about these pictures.
- kevimrose, on 05/08/2008, -0/+0The young girl with the dark eyes freaked me out.
- etx313, on 05/08/2008, -1/+1Big slow jerk for this post. Well done...
- screamingjoker, on 05/08/2008, -3/+0otherwise titled as "Aloof White People Being Overcome by Emotion"
- mystdragon333, on 05/08/2008, -2/+1Dugg for Magibon eyes.
- chillmandan, on 05/08/2008, -2/+3should be called, "white people at the opera"
- Defuser, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1much as you should be called "racist ***** on Digg".
- DucoNihilum, on 05/08/2008, -2/+6These are OK photos, but they aren't that good. At least not good enough to get a whole interview out of.
- b04155, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1Who's the coot that brought a baby to the opera?
- nastri83, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1Maybe it's the lighting, but that baby freaks me right the ***** out.
- banderwocky, on 05/08/2008, -0/+4I see dead people....at the opera.
- nothingness00, on 05/08/2008, -0/+4Stephen Colbert was right! The Opera is elitist. Check out their bling.
- YodaJones, on 05/08/2008, -0/+6Some attractive corpses there.
- cros, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1Is it just me or does the 8th photo down look a bit like Diana Krall?
- freshyill, on 05/08/2008, -0/+6Great... pictures of rich people dressed up and looking bored in the dark. Forgive me for being unmoved.
- lis880, on 05/08/2008, -0/+1No one seems to be enjoying the opera.
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