My Photos - Movie Stills

The movie still to reproduce:

Image Bank - Film Photography

Shooter (2007)

Kimberly French

Kimberly French was born in Canada in 1967. Her passion for photography started when she was only seven. She studied at many different schools and many different subjects including literature and philosophy. But when she studied at North West Film and Video Training Centre, she worked under mentor, Phil Hersee, a still photographer in the motion picture industry. She worked as an assistant for several years and then went on be a still photographer herself. Her latest works in film photography include New Moon, Love Happens, The Uninvited, Shooter, and Brokeback Mountain.

I chose this picture because, in relation to still photography, it is a very good representation of the movie and his character. He's running and the ground next to him is getting blown up but all the action is caught with great detail. You can see the specks of dust and dirt flying up and his facial expression clearly shows the feeling of the photograph.

The Kite Runner (2007)

Phil Bray

Phil Bray is very well known in the motion picture industry and has made several beautiful pieces of art with the movies he has worked with. He has a long list of major works including The Chronicles of Narnia, Milk, Death At a Funeral, The Kite Runner, Bee Season, Rent, Cold Mountain, Bicentennial Man, and many more.

I chose this still photography by Phil Bray because I really like the sun coming from the behind the two boys and how it lights up the kite. The kite is a key symbol in the movie and to have it lit up like that draws the attention to it. The setting is also very nice. I like the water and the make-shift bridge they are walking over.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Elliott Marks

Elliott Marks is one of the most respected photographers in Hollywood. He started his career as a wildlife photographer but slowly moved into motion picture still photography after he moved to Los Angeles with his wife and son. His career in Hollywood lasted 25 years, ending with his death in 2003. But many of his works still live on today. He worked with companies like Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Miramax Films, Columbia/Screen Gems, Touchstone, and Disney Studios. Some of his last works in still photography included Starsky & Hutch (2004) and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).

I chose this photograph mainly because it is from one of my favorite movies. And this scene happens to be one of my favorites parts of the movie. The main thing that stands out to me are the colors of the sky. It is very pretty but also compliments him in a way of making him look more regal and important.

Jaap

Mirjana Vrbaski

Mirjana was born in Canada and grew up in Canada and Serbia for most of her life. She now lives in The Hague, Nl, where she studies at the Royal Academy of Art. One of her most known photographers is in the National Portrait Gallery in London. She has works featured in many different galleries from Holland to London.

This photo is a part of a series that she did for a play called Long Day's Journey Into Night. These works are portraits of the actors in character. I particularly like this one because after I have seen her other works, I noticed that this one is slightly different from what she usually does. Most of her portraits are very clean and controlled with not too much expression in the face and no part of photo that stands out too much. I think that is something that makes her work stand out more. What is different about this one is his position in the chair. He is slouching in his chair and looking relaxed with his body. Also, the way his hands are placed makes him look quizzical and makes him look like he has some emotion. It brings out his character in a very subtle.

Darkroom Diary - December 10, 2009

For this project, we had movie stills from a movie that we had to recreate. This was a new challenge because we had to use different kinds of lighting situations to recreate the set. Throughout the process we got better and better at being able to determine where the light should be placed, what angle its coming at, and its intensity. At first, this took a long time to get perfect, but after a few times of repeating the process with each new situation, we were faster and more accurate as we became more comfortable with what we were doing.

This project definitely should me how the lighting of the subject is very important and I feel I have payed more attention to those kinds details now. Also, I have now learned that I can control and manipulate the lighting around me if it's not what I what.

Theory Notes: Movie Stills

Casablanca (1942)

Movie Still

This movie still from Casablanca is similar to my original movie still in the ways of the set-up of the people and the lighting. There are two people predominately in the front talking, and then random people (3-4) in the background talking. However, in lighting it is not as similar. In the Casablanca film still, they are located inside and in the other photograph they are outside, so the lighting is automatically different and more lighted. Inside the bar, it is dimly lit and the only light source appears to only be coming from the lights on the walls. In the original, the light source is sun light and most of the faces are evenly lit.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Movie Still

This movie still from Lawrence of Arabia is very similar to a film still from another movie. They are seated in the same position and they are both seated inside so there is not outside source of light, like the sun. There is a light beaming directly on the upper left side of his head in the other film still, however in the Lawrence of Arabia film still the light source is directly on his face and in front of him.

The Holiday (2006)

Movie Still

These two photos are similar in the way that they have the same basic screen shot, an over-the-sholder shot, but they are different too. For one, the position of the person talking in the movie still from the Holiday is reversed from the original film still that we had to replicate. They are also standing instead of sitting which changes the composition. However, the lighting situation is very similar in both. The face of the person talking is lighted more, which focuses the attention to their face. And the person who is listening is more in the shadows and the back of their head has no direct light on them.