Emulate Hollywood lighting with a gobo

Fit your flash with a gobo and turn models into femme fatales with this simple film noir lighting setup. Natasha J Bella shows you how…

- Natasha J Bella

Film noir is a style of portrait photography that originated in Hollywood in the 1940s. It’s characterized by its moody, dramatic ambience. Today, this style is still popular and many portrait photographers use film noir techniques to achieve atmospheric images by using low-key lighting and high contrast.

The key to successful film noir photography is finding the perfect balance between light and shadow. By carefully controlling the lighting, you can create a sense of mystery and drama. Film noir portraits often have a quality of sophistication and glamour that is unique, so if you’re looking to add a touch of Hollywood glamour to your own portraits, dramatic B&W photography is the perfect style for you to try.

To help with this theme, we used a gobo. This is a physical template that you place between the light source and the subject in order to cast a shadow or pattern. Gobos can be used to create all sorts of different effects, from simple shadows to complex patterns. So, whether you’re looking to add some dramatic flair or just want to experiment with light, they can be very useful.