Chiaroscuro: Emerging from shadows

Making My Decision

NUEVOS AUTORRETRATOS IX

Caravaggio light and the Nintendo

day 223 - Chiaroscuro

The Renaissance did us a favor and popularized the dramatic use of bold contrasts commonly seen in stylized paintings from the period, a visual approach which is known in art history as chiaroscuro. In photography, the same effect is created by using a single source of light — either naturally or with what’s technically called low-key lighting. The technique adds a delightful cinematic quality to photo compositions, and you’ll find a trove of examples from our community to enjoy.

See more remarkable chiaroscuro photography in the Emerging From Darkness gallery.

Photos from alebaffa, AMP FOTOS, Dominic Bugatto, Teodor Lazarev, and lions + tigers + bears oh my.