It’s interesting [to me] how, if we fully light a scene, it can look fake and boring. But if we remove lights, leave lots of shadow, it all sort of pops more. I think Caravaggio was probably onto something. And maybe that’s one of the things that makes ‘vintage’ porn so much more interesting to me than modern porn ~ proper selective lighting and chosen darkness.
In so much modern stuff they seem to just ram in as many lights as possible, as if it’s a medical tutorial, and the outcome is similarly bleak. Whereas in the 70s/80s there was a bit more “Come and lie by this window and have a nice time together, we’ll film it …”.
I’m not saying all retro porn is better. I’m just saying that what is real, what is believable … is sexy. Unfortunately, part of the real is darkness, and our temptation is always to remove it, but perhaps in doing so we rob ourselves of some sexiness.
Here’s a scene I built yesterday, with the lights turned up:
And here’s the exact same scene with some darkness allowed back in:
Means something different, eh? And it’s not just ‘night’ vs ‘day’; real daylight has better shadows than that first picture. And real sundown is like the second picture; brooding, pregnant with meaning and anticipation. Itchy to get away.
Anyway, I was thinking about light and dark recently when I went out for a drink with a few people; one person I met at this event was a successful performer/actor in his 60s. He said he’d found a group retreat difficult because everyone there had bad stuff to face, but he didn’t. He said he ‘didn’t have a shadow side’. Which I found interesting … I asked if he’d always performed, even for his family as a child, and he responded that he never had a chance as it was so fractious he spent most of his time out of the house trying to avoid all the fighting. The plot thickens …
He went on to say he’d always loved performing, but hated it when directors told him to just ‘be himself’, and ranted a little on that theme, to which I responded “It can be hard to believe that we are enough, just as we are.”, and he immediately teared up.
‘No shadow self’, my fat arse!
I’d say we left pretty good friends; not least because there was darkness and realness in our conversation.
I’m saying our darkness is sometimes something we don’t even see, something we deny is there [for decades, if we need to]. But there’s beauty in it, wholeness. The fullness of our truths in all their pain and wonder. And whatever age we find ourselves at, we can start to face them, and find real sexiness, real life.
Anyway, here’s some character development, and some truly gigantic tits. Because why not, eh?
… oh yes, I’ve written another comic. Ahem. They keep popping out, oh dear.
Yaaayy! More Sindy! I can’t wait to read it!
I mean … I’ve written it. Haven’t started making it yet, that’ll have to wait. But yeah. Add it to the massive pile of ‘concepts’ and pick it out when the time’s right hehehh.
Quite all right, m’lady! I’m absolutely certain it will be worth the wait, your works, in particular, surely are worth it!! (Could those darling youngsters possibly be the twin offspring of ♡Sophie and Marcus♡? Asking for a friend!) 😉
New comic! Yay!
Darkness adds flavor and depth to a scene or a personality. It gives dimension to character and experience. We all have dark elements because is a dynamic and fluid expression found in every aspect of life. The shadow bears gifts if we but acknowledge, explore and embrace it. It’s a wonderful bit of self…when we quit hiding and running away from it.
Looking forward to experiencing your new creative expression!
Boldly glow……
Boldly glow haha! love it
Funny reading this while flipping through a 1987 penthouse magazine….
As a sculptor I can say that shadow creates contrast and defines shape and character, maybe the same can be said in a literal way about people.
You know what they say: “everyone is fighting a battle you are not aware of…except the Kardashians”
–salutes those magnificently perky melons–
Lol. Hey hey, Sindy. Hope things are well and good for you. As always, eagerly anticipating your next comic. 🙂
I enjoy photography, I used to really enjoy the darkroom. Now it’s a digital darkroom and I still love it, playing with light.
I must be honest, I thoroughly enjoy porn from the late 70’s (just for the fuck of it), and 80’s. But for me, I reckon the 90s was when we both peaked as humans (consensus, I reckon), but also in porn. Great movies, some great directors wanting to actually create something amazing, and often hysterical acting.
Pumped for the next coming too. Woohoo
I agree, in theory about lighting, however I think it’s a delicate balance.
Now don’t take this the wrong way, but sometimes I think you Brits take this fixation on lighting too far.
For instance, that episode of the final season of “Game of Thrones,” and the final battle against the dead, it was so fucking dark, you could not see a fucking thing.
“What’s happening?!!” was what I heard all through the viewing.
Now, the final season sucked ass but that lighting REALLY SUCKED HUGE ASS, COVERED WITH BOILS.
Yyyeeeaaaahhhss … … … I’m not sure you can pin some dark scenes at the end of a multinational collaboration like Game of Thrones on ‘us Brits’ (perhaps someone needs to turn their screen brightness up, or some lighting director just got carried away), but I can see how some cultures might prioritise different lighting in different ways.
Lighting is important when it comes to shooting photos as well … the most dull sunset may become rather spectacular when going 1 or 1.3 stops down.
Now that girl you show us … doesn’t she look a lot like that Gilly character found in the “Play of Power” series, (better known as GOT)? Some part of her not so much though … but her face …
Gilly is daughter and wife of one unpleasant patriarch in that universe and it would make kind of (odd?) sense if she was a part of a farther/daughter “relationship”.
Aha that’s funny – yes I haven’t watched GoT, but having googled it, she does look a little like Gilly. Funnily enough I was planning on actually calling my character Jilly! Bit of a coincidence that, but I’m erring more towards Molly now, so it’s a moot point. Aaaanyway
Old school ..read film.. amateur photographer here. It always seemed to work to underexpose rather than overexpose a shot. When overexposed you can never get back what’s been overexposed — it’s gone forever. But it’s almost always possible to coax out more from an underexposed shot.
And with things digital now it seems to me the defaults in almost all cameras, phones, video cameras are too bright so I always dial things down about 2/3 of an f-stop as a matter of course.
More to come from Sindy is always welcome news.
Ah that’s an interesting point, I never knew that but it sounds like a good tip, to underexpose. I think you’re right, that does make sense.
Shadows definitely make things more interesting, they define shape just as darkness defines character more accurately than shiny unreality. But those boobs, how does she even stand up! They need to see some action methinks!
In the meantime have a fabulous yule with all the trimmings
Ah yes, I know poor girl she’ll likely have a little back trouble! That’s the problem with growing up, it’s not always everything in a sensible order.