Stephen Lucas_51842

Phil posted one of my favorite Caravaggio paintings (beheading of Holofernes). Caravaggio's use of chiaroscuro is practically what got me interested in cinematography. Paintings, movies, photographs, even music and textures can inspire a style for lighting and composition. I've always been a Caravaggio fan because his works are so crisp and contrasty. I really like researching old photographs when studying light. Even if it's not a period piece, there's something about old candid photos that brings me inspiration. In regards to the discussion of realism in cinematography... styles seem to be varying more than converging. With the flexibility of our tools today it seems like the trajectory is one of growing eclecticism.