The photographs that came out of Hollywood in the 1930's, from the likes of the great George Hurrell, are never to be forgotten.Amazing shots of the great stars of 30's film… Harlow, Bogey, all of 'em… the actors who filled the screen in the 1930's.But the ease of the digital era makes fewer photographers eager to take on difficult techniques.
Dallas Photographer Mark Oristano has decided to bring back those difficult but glamorous photo techniques of the 1930's.”
“I always loved Hurrell’s work,” says portrait photographer Oristano, “and a couple of years back I studied with Michael Grecco, the great portrait photographer from L.A.We learned all about constant style lighting with things like Mole-Richardsons.I found some of the old Mole's on ebay and began to work with them.”
But to get the true effect, Oristano decided to step back from digital and return to the film camera. But not just any film camera.
"It's a 4×5 Speed Graphic from the US Army Signal Corps from World War II. It’s the same model camera that Joe Rosenthal used to take the famous Iwo Jima photo.It's well over sixty years old and it still takes great photos.A 4×5 negative gives a detail and a softness you don't get digitally.”
The old-time look has begun to catch on in Dallas, where former sportscaster Oristano has been shooting engagement shots, senior portraits and more in the Hollywood/1935 style.
"Probably the most fun is the look on people's faces when they see the final result.they really have no idea, after the long styling and shooting session, how amazing their shot will come out.”
The shoots take about twice as long as an average portrait session given the delicacy of the lighting. The techniques, while fairly simple to figure out from the old Hollywood photos, are often difficult to replicate.But with a little bit of work, you can find out how to create this 1930's magic.
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