Film Noir

After looking at Mike Stimpson's photography, I had realised how important lighting is in the making of a photograph. With this, I had also realised that dark lighting and black and white images most suit my theme of stalking, as it looks a lot more sinister and effective. This led me into looking at Film Noir as lighting in this is also used to create very sinister mood, and noticed to be the the trend of how 'dark', downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many American crime and detective films released in France.
This is why I will be researching on Film Noir, to explore lighting, and any other techniques used in them to create a sinister and lowering effect.

Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds are a fixture in Film Noir films. This is becuase they cast harsh, and neat shadows. The vivid stripes and emphasis on distorted diagonals lend visual tension and an air of instability, ambivalence, or imprisonment (at times suggesting cage or prison bars) to a scene. whether the light streaming in through the window is from the sun, a streetlight or a neon sign, the light through the blinds creates the impression is that it's always darker and more claustrophobic inside the room, where the characters are confined, than it is outside.

Blinds also suggest a filter through which we, and our noir protagonist, is seeing and interpreting events. This is interesting as it relates to my topic of stalking, and the sense of someone looking at someone through something, giving a sense of voyeurism. Below i have annotated a few film noir images and how they are effective.

I like this picture because of the harsh shadows and a sense of mystery created in the picture. I also like it becuase it represents someone hiding and looking out at someone else, and in some cases images such as these could imitate Voyeurism which is also very interesting.