Film Noir Still Photography


The Gold Standard in Fine Art Printmaking
Alfred Hitchcock was a master of the Film Noir medium. He understood the value, mystique, and intrigue that dark shadows projected to the viewers of his films. Hitchcock commented, with respect to his black & white films and photographic images, "Suspense is like a woman; the more left to the imagination, the more the excitement." Suspense in photography is created by the interplay of light and shadows; the more that's left to the imagination, the more excitement the viewer feels. When it comes to the expression of light and shadow, black & white film photography is king!

Film Noir photography is about shape, form, and texture; but, even more than that, it's about the play of shadows and how they capture one's attention. It's all about reducing a subject down to its basic characteristics and structure. It focuses attention to the thing itself that's being photographed by eliminating a rainbow of distracting colors. You can't forcibly express concepts like poverty, depression, loneliness, and fear—even mystery—through color images. Color masks emotions; black & white images emphasize them.

The concept of Film Noir takes black & white images to a higher level of mystique through the creative use of dark shadows. To be a successful black & white photographer, you must have a reason for shooting black & white images. Any subject or scene that can be shot in color can be shot in black & white; however, color subjects do not require a reason to be photographed. A black & white zebra is a good reason for shooting the subject in black & white (like the photo below); dark storm clouds and ominous shadows forming above a mountain top is a good reason for shooting in black & white (like the photo at the top of this page); as is the study of forms, textures, shapes, and the mystique and intrigue that dark shadows project in a scene. Thus, the key to creating outstanding black & white images is to have a reason for shooting in black & white that cannot be satisfied through the use of color.




An Emphasis On Developing and Printing
The fact that film and film cameras are readily available in the photography market does not mean commercial film processing and development is readily available to the film photographer. In fact, photo labs that develop negatives from film and produce prints directly from the negatives are few in number. Thus, the primary focus is on the film artist's penchant for developing his or her own negatives and enlarging prints from those negatives. Most film aficionados are pleasantly surprised to discover how easy it is to process and develop their own negatives and prints and find much satisfaction and enjoyment in this creative and forgotten aspect of the art of photography.

Fine Art Printmaking
Film noir photography is and continues to be the artist's gold standard in fine art printmaking. Shooting black & white images and obtaining rich black & white tones with distinct separations of gray is truly an art in itself. Most photographers know that shooting perfectly exposed black & white images and obtaining rich black saturation and high-contrast dynamic range, while preserving aesthetically pleasing "bokeh" (a soft or "creamy" background with smooth round circles of light and no hard edges), and distinct details in the highlights and dark shadows of photographs, is more challenging than shooting color images. In addition, Film Noir Artists know how to create salon prints as opposed to standard exhibition prints.

What is a Certified Film Noir Artist?
A Certified Film Noir Artist is a fine art photographer who specializes in black & white film and advocates for the preservation of black & white photography in both the public domain and the visual arts community. These photographers actively encourage and support the marketing and distribution of new and advanced film cameras and associated film technologies to camera manufacturers. See the right sidebar panel for the first new 35mm film camera that appeared in the marketplace in 2025, after camera manufacturers discontinued producing film cameras decades ago. Film Noir Artists are also active in the preservation of printed black & white heritage photographs (paper-based prints) where negatives no longer exist. It is the image itself, and not just the means by which it was created, that is preserved for the purpose of posterity. Photographic preservation is also the practice of restoring the appearance of a physical photograph that has been damaged by natural, manmade, or environmental causes or simply affected by age or neglect.

An Invitation
I invite you to view this unique website to learn more about me and my passion for fine art black & white film photography, and to discover why the film medium is superior to digital imaging. While viewing this website, be sure to check out my online Film Noir Artist Workshop and learn how you can earn a diploma that identifies you as a Certified Film Noir Artist.