My inspiration for this post came from my dear, longtime blogging friend, Debbie @ Musings by an ND Domer's Mom, who is not only a gifted...
I just recently discovered the book, George Hurrell's Hollywood - Glamour Portraits, and was in awe!
In the past I had seen several of his photographs in various photography books, especially books that highlighted the work of Hollywood photographers, because as you all know...I love, adore and worship all things vintage Hollywood.
And as you also know, I have a fetish for black and white photography.
George Hurrell revolutionized Hollywood portraiture between 1925 and 1950 through his ability to capture and create the glamour, allure, and celebrity of his subjects. In many of his images, he renders them almost as living sculptures. Before Hurrell's time, promotional stills throughout the movie industry were in a homogeneous style, characterized by soft-focus, generic studio settings, and standard lighting placement.
Hurrell sculpted his subjects’ faces with light and shadow, using a movable boom light that he modeled on a boom microphone, to illuminate cheekbones and create shadows under the eyes and nose.
“The most essential thing about my style was working with shadows to design the face instead of flooding it with light,” he said.
Hurrell’s work celebrated the human face.
He defined for all time the public image of many of Hollywood's greatest legends...
In the past I had seen several of his photographs in various photography books, especially books that highlighted the work of Hollywood photographers, because as you all know...I love, adore and worship all things vintage Hollywood.
And as you also know, I have a fetish for black and white photography.
George Hurrell revolutionized Hollywood portraiture between 1925 and 1950 through his ability to capture and create the glamour, allure, and celebrity of his subjects. In many of his images, he renders them almost as living sculptures. Before Hurrell's time, promotional stills throughout the movie industry were in a homogeneous style, characterized by soft-focus, generic studio settings, and standard lighting placement.
Hurrell sculpted his subjects’ faces with light and shadow, using a movable boom light that he modeled on a boom microphone, to illuminate cheekbones and create shadows under the eyes and nose.
“The most essential thing about my style was working with shadows to design the face instead of flooding it with light,” he said.
Hurrell’s work celebrated the human face.
He defined for all time the public image of many of Hollywood's greatest legends...
Have a great rest of your week, everyone!
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*To see more of George Hurrell's work, go here.
*To watch a wonderful video about George Hurrell, go here.
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