Weekly Competition #211 - Film Noir Mood Competition

I really enjoyed the entries for this competition. A very varied interpretation of the theme, a high quality field and a very difficult decision, hence the crowded podium. Here are my thoughts:

Truth Or Dare: JudithAnn

A terrific start to the competition. This image is very successful in creating an unsettling mood. It cries of desolation and the 1940’s period is right for noir. The tobacco tones in the sky and grain add to the sombre mood - what might have happened here? The strong contrast of the white weatherboarding and deep shadows work for me, I can imagine this as a film set. I think I might correct the converging verticals.

Believe: Darlene

I am unsure about the mood conveyed by this picture. It is very dark and grainy, which I like. The subject amd the composition is good, it does have some mystery about it. I’ve come back to this image many times and I can’t work out whether the girl’s expression, which seems rather playful to me, adds to the mystery or contradicts the dark mood. I’ll file this under ambiguous, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

The End Of A Shadow: Axel Luther

Great title. You have provided a description of how this fits the brief, but the picture clearly speaks for itself. It’s a central and symmetrical composition but that serves to emphasise the focus on the demise of the shadow’s owner. I like the range of dark tones retaining the detail of the stonework. The scene must be a digital construct - the visible light source isn’t casting the shadow or negating it - and it has a strangeness about it. No bad thing though and very interesting.

The Ruin: Sandinista

A dark scene of a ruined building, this creates a spooky atmosphere. I really like the composition - the foreground branches really add to this scene. And I like the way the front of the ruin is shadowed with the light source coming from the side. It would be nice to imagine this as the light from a full moon, but this image really looks like day made night by the processing with the lighted edges a little too harsh.

Time Was Running Out: Steve Presto

A very good location for the theme. I like the title and I wonder for whom time is running out. The Kallash driver doesn’t appear in peril so I assume the drama is to do with the minibus and its open door. The viewpoint is very interesting and there is a nice range of tones in the scene. I’m not sure the picture would fit the bill as well without the title though.

Moonlight: Malcolm Leader

You managed to find that supermoon. I like the composition here with the silhouetted trees and church - and I like the details visible in the church. The grainy atmosphere is a nice touch. The scene speaks more of a ghost story than film noir. I can imagine the trees being silhouetted by an obscured full moon, but the position of the enormous moon doesn’t seem to provide the right lighting for the rest of the scene and it is that contradictory lighting that doesn’t quite work for me.

On The Waterfront: Hyram

I like the depth of black punctuated with the dockside lights and refelections in the water. I’m peering to see what might be happening here or what might happen, but I can’t arrive at anything so I think the scene needs just one element to suggest something - a figure, a car. I like the overall look of the scene but I think it needs to be a lot sharper.

Leeds Castle Interior: Dannyh

I think this is an excellent image. The composition and the lighting are very good. The subject lends itself to mystery and for me is suited to a ghost story. I like the darkness around the window and the details in the internal shutters and around the edges of the figure. What I really like is the splash of red provided by the cushions - they add a lot to this picture. While this is one of my favourite entries I can’t really imagine it as film noir though.

Do I laugh Now Or Wait Till It Gets Funny: Aliengrove

II was hoping for some noir inspired portraits in the competiition and here’s a very good interpretation of the theme. I knew this was yours from the thumbnail as I think you’ve found a distinctive style. It certainly suits the genre, dark, moody with excellent deep blacks. The pose and expression are intriguing and engaging. And but for a shirt and tie I think that’s not a bad Walter at all.

Quartet: Digital CG

Very good composition with a spot on mise en scene - I like the city lights beyond. It’s a good black and white with the deep blacks beyond and the white collars providing a full tonal range. Where do you find blokes in hats these days? My only slight detracting factor is the rightmost individual’s attire is out of sorts with the others, another trench coat would have made this perfect for me. Impressive interpretation.

Grave Consequences: Mudge

Nice title. I like the high viewpoint. The foreground branches are a nice touch in this scene. I didn’t spot the crow at first - it took several viewings but that really is a nice touch. Having thought about it I think its almost unnoticed inclusion right in the corner is the way to go. It’s another scene where the darkening gives it a somewhat artificial look and again more obviously suit’s a horror/fantasy genre, especially because of the crow.

Beneath The Pier: Stopher

Another lowkey look achieved in processing. This one I feel rather successfully darkens down because of the dramatic, stormy looking sky, although maybe it doesn‘t need to be quite that dark. It’s an unusual looking shot and the distortions from the wide angle do give it a strangeness. Putting the mystery boy at the edge does mean he is a bit distorted which looks rather odd. I find this shot unusual and very interesting.

The Edge Of Darkness

A landscape entry and a very good one. Terrific composition in form and progression of tones. The mist and vignette add lots of moodiness. I find it difficult to take good pictures of woodland and this is a superb lesson. I can see this as the ideal context for a Brothers Grimm tale, another favourite entry but another one that I see as ideally suited to a different genre.

Rainy Street: Prieni

This night scene definitely has the right look. The dark tones retain detail, particularly the wet cobbles and the attention is drawn to the bar and other signs. I find myself peering close to work out what we have here. At the ‘Alabama’ sign there appears to be a music club. It could be a scene from New Orleans, maybe the German quarter, if one existed. For me this is like a set waiting for a protagonist - someone on a corner smoking, for example, would make this a winner.

12 Steps: Gary John

Excellent composition and the noir elements are obvious. I really like the way the doorway frames the scene. The mood is just right. It appears a little soft and grainy which gives it more of a period feel. It is a high contrast scene, which fit’s the bill nicely, but the highlights look blown to me. I think exposing for the highlights would have been better as I think the scene can take more shadow . Very good though.

Far Too Quiet: GlynM

Noir comes to Surrey. A rather tricky scene to deal with and dealt with well. I like the foreground tyre marks in the snow and the fact it is still snowing and I like the definition that the Christmas lights bring to the building. I don’t mind the lens flare. Here the scene feels right empty, probably because driving to the pub in snow is not a good idea though rather than any sense of foreboding which I feel is only really evident in the title.

Femme Fatale: John Riley

A very striking portrait. I can try and analyse it - the curly blonde locks, the shadow across one eye, the
unflattering skin detail which gives a gritty look, the use of film which has a more cinematic look. But mostly this just looks absolutely right for the genre - great expression. Kelly gets the part. I can’t imagine you with anything other than a Pentax, so the EXIF data of Fuji Finepix is strange.

The Hound: CardiffGareth

Very good low key shot, how to make a scary looking dog scarier. This ugliest of dogs certainly looks sinister lurking in the shadows. What a brute. Dog noir.

Rain: Guy

I like the mood here a lot, with the lights from the defocused street scene punctuating a dreary day. The scene outside just looks a bit drab and I think that is just right - I could easily imagine this as a mood setting shot to a scene in a run down hotel room. I can’t quite work out whether the intention was to focus on the raindrops which are blurred from camera shake or whether everything is intentionally out of focus. I think there is some motion blur in the raindrops, so apologies if this is wrong. Good interpretation.

By The Canal@ Pentaxophile

A gritty urban look to this scene, good tonal range from deep shadow though to the light. The composition of repeating elements leads the eye nicely to the defocused distant figure and that for me is the element that adds the mystery and potential story of the scene. I can visualise this as a still from a contemporary neo noir drama, probably violent. Maybe something like the French film La Haine.

Darkskies: Don’t Go To The Castle At Night

I like this image. I think the composition is excellent, with the leading line from the bridge bottom left leading to the castle rising above the town. The photo is take on a very pleasant day and I think the graininess is somewhat at odds with this. A dark and stormy atmosphere would suit the processing would much better and as much as I like this scene it doesn’t really convey film noir.

Approaching Stormaulgee20

I like the composition here, but I feel the exposure is just the wrong way round. At odds with the title, the sky looks like a normal cloudy sky and the foreground is a bit dark. I feel it would be better the other way around with a dark, stormier looking sky and more defined foreground detail, a good candidate for an ND grad.

Freedom.Impossible: Alexfilipov

A classic motif, the barbed wire fence and I think this is a particularly good example. Good choice of focal point and depth of field and I like the tones. The composition is strong with good use of diagonals. It doesn’t resonate film noir for me but it is a very good image. There is no exif.

Downtown: Mecrox

Very interesting. The close viewpoint gives a sense of intimacy and engagement with the scene. The choice of subject is very good, Joanna Lumley-esque and the cigarette is a perfect noir touch. It’s a very good conversion with strong tones. The expression is spot on for this genre and there is a sense of mystery. For me this photo is all about the subject’s expression and I might crop out the right hand third of the scene in order to concentrate boldly on the woman.

1st Pentaxophile
2nd= John Riley, AlienGrove
3rd= Digital CG, Axel Luther, Judith Ann
HC’s Mecrox, Prieni, Gary John

Really good entries not quite film noir enough for me: Dannyh, MarkLJ, Darkskies, Alexfilipov, Cardiff Gareth.

Congratulations Pentaxophile, a great winning image, and congrats too to the podium places! Some great entries as usual, and a very interesting theme for the comp.

Thanks for the second place Doc O, and the excellent judging!

Congratulation to Pentaxophile and the others on the podium - was a special topic with a great range of entries. Thanks Dr. O for the very detailed and good judging.
Actually, my picture wasn't a fake post processing. This wall is part of the castle ruine in Heidelberg - this ruine gets illuminated by very strong orange floodlights. I wanted to shoot this nice looking wall with the lantern in the center but it was impossible to find a stand, without throwing my own shadow on the wall (as the floodlight was far brighter then the lantern).... I then decided to use the shadow by getting into this special position (hoping that no Japanese toursit would see me, standing two min in a slightly stupid position behind my tripod )

Many thanks for another good challenging subject, your excellent reviews and judging.

Congratulations to our winners and everyone else for another fantastic set of images.

Glyn

Thanks Dr. O for the swift and competent judging and setting an interesting theme. Congratulations to pentaxophile and the crowd on 2nd and 3rd place. Certainly not easy judging this one.

Regarding your critique of my shot:
Smoking in public Surely not, it wouldn't safe for children to look at.
Good idea, didn't have a smoking gun ...er... model with me.

Prieni

Congratulations to Pentaxophile for the winning entry and to the other podium places.

Thank you Dr.Orloff for an interesting competition and the comprehensive judging.

Thankyou Dr O. - I'm quite suprised and very pleased! Some great other entries this week, particularly axeluther's shadow shot which I thought was very creative.

Many congrats to Pentaxophile on a classy winner and to all podiums and HCs.

Well done Dr O on your prompt and, as usual, well thought out judging and comments.

You are of course correct about my image being shot in daylight, maybe with hindsight I could have spent a little time trying to burn some of the harsher highlights.

Well done to everyone, especially the placed entries.

Great theme, dr, and one I'll continue to practise now. I knew my entry wasn't film noir enough, but just ran out of time. Not enough archive shots to work from yet. The chateau was bombed by the Nazis in the 40's, so real 40's rather than the film look.

Cheers,

ds

Thanks for such sensitive and thorough judging! A cracking subject especially for lovers of classic black and white.

Very prompt, well judged and also many thanks for the 2nd Place!

The rather odd Fuji EXIF was mentioned, and I can only assume that at some point in the digitisation process an S7000 was involved. We did have one once. It seems to have overridden any Pentax EXIF. In any event, it was indeed shot on a 645n, which was a superb camera.