The world is rich with color, and it's truly amazing when we can capture that vibrancy in our portraits. Color brings life, emotion, and depth to our work. However, there was a time when the art of visual storytelling relied solely on black-and-white films and photographs. This simplicity forced artists to focus on contrast, light, and shadow to convey emotion and meaning. That era fascinated me, and I felt a deep urge to return to it. I wanted to delve into the unique tension and power that black and white hold—the way they can evoke such strong feelings and create a timeless, almost poetic, sense of drama and intensity. Through this exploration,
I aimed to discover how much emotion and narrative can be expressed without the distraction of colour, relying purely on the interplay between light and dark.
Has anyone watched or remember movie - Citizen Kane? Written, produced, directed and played by Orson Welles. The film delves into themes of journalism, the corrupting power of wealth, fame, and the limits of influence. It explores the unreliability of perception, the nature of life and death, the weight of loneliness, and the search for truth. Above all, it is a meditation on memory—how our lives persist in the fragmented, often unreliable recollections of others. I found this movie brilliant one and I must admit I have never seen it before my husband told me it is a must one to see! I am glad I did!
The trailer of Citizen Kane movie:
The unique angles in which this movie was filmed, combined with the striking contrasts between blacks and whites, captivated me and sparked my creative drive. The way the filmmakers used unconventional perspectives and the interplay of light and shadow to tell a story fascinated me. It highlighted the power of composition and contrast in visual storytelling, showing how much emotion and meaning can be conveyed through these elements alone. Inspired by this, I felt compelled to create something that would explore and celebrate these techniques—crafting a work that uses bold contrasts and dynamic angles to evoke a sense of drama and intensity, much like the film that inspired me.
To achieve the dramatic and timeless elegance of a black-and-white photoshoot, I carefully selected outfits in dark colours, knowing that when converted to black and white, they would enhance the sense of drama. (Even though digital cameras capture images in color, including when you set the display to black and white, the images remain in color until edited on a computer.)
For one of the looks, I envisioned a one -sleeve dress with a voluminous sleeve on the other side. To bring this idea to life, I visited my go -to fabric store in Manchester, Abakhan, where you can find a wide variety of materials at affordable prices. I chose a black organdy fabric and crafted 20 individual pieces (which you can see below) that I then attached, one by one, to the model, creating the dramatic sleeve effect I envisioned.
A link to one of the best material shops - Abakhan (clic on the button):
I thoroughly enjoyed this creative experience, where I combined elements of the past with a modern twist in creating timeless elegance of black & white portraits. It all began with a simple black dress, but as I delved deeper into the process, it evolved into something far more striking. The dress itself became a canvas for further creativity. I experimented with the material, crafting a dramatic one-sided sleeve that added a bold and unique silhouette. Each detail was carefully considered and added gradually, with the earings complementing the design perfectly. The last touch was adding a piece of pearl neckless. It brought an air of elegance and timelessness that just felt right, like the missing piece of a puzzle.
Finally, I explored how the ensemble interacted with movement, experimenting with poses and angles to create a sense of drama. Me and Isobella worked as a team that trusted and listed to each other. This entire process was a journey of discovery, where every small addition contributed to the final portraits.
Short video that helps to see a bit of the process for this photoshoot:
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