DAY 227

FASHION & BEAUTY

Black and White Photography

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME

Black and white images have a timeless appeal—not just because they are beautiful but also because they take the focus off of clothing color, which tends to date a photograph.

To create an image that can stay in a portfolio for decades, start by using clothing with classic lines. A white T-shirt and jeans, a sundress, or a black leather jacket are a few good examples. Props and furniture must also be considered in the planning. Hairstyles also are telling of the year of the photograph. Try pulled back hairstyles or that tousled “just got out of bed” look. Wet hair goes a long way in concealing the style of the haircut.

The image of the girl sitting in a stream of water at the base of a small waterfall displays nothing to give away its time period. It was photographed by standing in the water with the model, without any external flash or lighting. The water provided the appropriate amount of reflected fill light. The image was captured on Kodak TMAX 100-speed print film and push-processed to ISO 400 to boost the contrast and add additional film grain. The camera was a medium format Twin-Lens Reflex, with an 80mm fixed lens set to a 1.8 aperture. —MR