I often look at pictures made by the artists I admire, like Joe Jusko, Gerald Brom, Frank Frazetta, William Mortensen, and Michael Whelan, to better understand what it is that makes their work outstanding.
One of the things is contrast! Look at the work of the artists I listed. Black & White pictures are nearly always high contrast, with the main subject clearly differentiated from everything else in the picture. It is the same thing with the color pictures. If you turn on of their color pictures Black & White, you will see the same thing: Clear separation of subjects and background. The main subject clearly separated from everything else.
There are exceptions, but those are deliberate exceptions, when blending different parts together is the point. It rarely happens by accident.
Me, I am struggling, and, I hope, slowly learning to do the same thing.
The picture above is a visual analysis of the picture, similar to the one I made for Arachnophobia II. Even though I have used many elements borrowed from Mortensen's visual language, and some from other sources, the primary element is contrast: Light and darkness, sex and fear, water (soft), and stone (hard).
Below are four different versions of Kyla Rising, two in colour, and two B&W. Have a look at them.Which is your favorite version? Why?
That is all for now. I'll get back to preparing picture ideas and photo sessions for 2019.
Be seeing you!
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