Dark photographic compositions
Highlighting the darkness. It seems almost like an oxymoron, but in photography certain techniques can do just that. Much like darker tones found in painting, dark photographic compositions can echo melancholy, somberness or loneliness – whether that is in a dimly lit nightscape or a densely packed crowd void of light in the urban landscape. Both black and white and color photography can create dark compositions, playing with the hues of browns, black and grays that emerge within photographic processes. By using contrast to highlight a subject, such as an item, gaze, or outline, it might suggest a dark emotion or feeling of loneliness, danger and even intimacy and adventure. In Artsper's own selection of works, Christophe Dabreau notes that he observes his subjects and attempts to “bring to light" a view hidden in shadow. Whilst Cécile Baldewyns' work aims to tell stories and reveal secrets of her desires and sorrow through dark compositions. Though her work has been deemed both sensual and disturbing, isn't the foreboding and dramatic nature of dark tones the perfect setting for it?
Cécile Baldewyns
Big wheel Osaka
Cécile Baldewyns
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.5 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
$954
Michael James O'Brien
Butch Chanel: John, Robert and Michael, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$5,000
Still Life with Tulips and 5 Opalina Vases, Antwerp
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$5,000
Ebony Jet (Girlfriend), NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 152.4 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 inch
$8,000
Still Life with a Yellow Tulip and a Yellow Opalina Vase, Antwerp
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$5,000
Jem Jender, Studio, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$5,000
Constance (Girlfriend), NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$5,000
Joey Arias Channeling Billie Holiday, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$5,000
In the Evening (Diptych), n.d.
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 inch
$5,000
Julie Peiffer
Recconais qu'il y a toujours une inconnue
Julie Peiffer
Photography - 62 x 40 x 0.5 cm Photography - 24.4 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
$1,346
Les fleurs respirent la nuit
Julie Peiffer
Photography - 80 x 100 x 0.04 cm Photography - 31.5 x 39.4 x 0 inch
$2,693
Carlos Arriagada
Vagabondages 12
Carlos Arriagada
Photography - 50 x 75 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 0 inch
$1,907
Héros de l'ombre #6
Carlos Arriagada
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$1,402
Héros de l'ombre #3
Carlos Arriagada
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$1,571
Vagabondages 11
Carlos Arriagada
Photography - 50 x 75 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 0 inch
$1,627
Vagabondages 14
Carlos Arriagada
Photography - 50 x 75 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 0 inch
$1,627
Vagabondages 4
Carlos Arriagada
Photography - 75 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,627
Irène Jonas
108, de la série Baltique
Irène Jonas
Photography - 18 x 27 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.1 x 10.6 x 0 inch
$1,010
Les ballons jaunes (Russie), série 1991-2018
Irène Jonas
Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$1,346
105, de la série Baltique
Irène Jonas
Photography - 18 x 27 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.1 x 10.6 x 0 inch
$1,010
106, de la série Baltique
Irène Jonas
Photography - 18 x 27 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.1 x 10.6 x 0 inch
$1,010
Le rêveur, de la série "Les Bouquinistes"
Irène Jonas
Photography - 45 x 30 cm Photography - 17.7 x 11.8 inch
$954
103, de la série "Baltique"
Irène Jonas
Photography - 18 x 27 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.1 x 10.6 x 0 inch
$1,010
Enfance (Russie)
Irène Jonas
Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$1,346
102, de la série Baltique
Irène Jonas
Photography - 18 x 27 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.1 x 10.6 x 0 inch
$1,010
Eru Narayana
Guilherme Licurgo
Lost in The Fog, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Guilherme Licurgo
Photography - 58.4 x 88.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23 x 35 x 0.1 inch
$2,500
Capoeira II. From the Rio de Janeiro series
Guilherme Licurgo
Photography - 88.9 x 58.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 35 x 23 x 0.1 inch
$2,500
Lost in the Fog III, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Guilherme Licurgo
Photography - 88.9 x 58.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 35 x 23 x 0.1 inch
$2,500
Bottle, Belém do Pará
Guilherme Licurgo
Photography - 88.9 x 58.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 35 x 23 x 0.1 inch
$2,500
Manifesto I
Guilherme Licurgo
Photography - 88.9 x 58.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 35 x 23 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Manifesto IX
Guilherme Licurgo
Photography - 88.9 x 58.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 35 x 23 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Manifesto XIV/ Medium Size Print
Guilherme Licurgo
Photography - 88.9 x 58.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 35 x 23 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Manifesto X.
Guilherme Licurgo
Photography - 88.9 x 58.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 35 x 23 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Prisca Lobjoy
John Craven né Conte
Kano 1975
John Craven né Conte
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.5 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
$1,066
MOON SHIN Portait dans sculpture blanche
John Craven né Conte
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.5 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
$3,254
Portrait MOON SHIN
John Craven né Conte
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
$3,254
MOON SHIN Portrait au chien
John Craven né Conte
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
$3,254
Portrait de sculpteurs du Musée des Sables
John Craven né Conte
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.5 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
$3,254
Moon Shin, Portrait à la cigarette
John Craven né Conte
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
$3,254
MOON SHIN Portrait et Sculpture
John Craven né Conte
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
$3,254
Moon Shin totem Lia, Musée des Sables
John Craven né Conte
Photography - 40 x 40 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 inch
$4,375
Justin Pumfrey
West of the way
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 101 x 76 x 0.001 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 x 0 inch
$2,238
Silbury Hill
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 76 x 101 x 0.1 cm Photography - 29.9 x 39.8 x 0 inch
$2,238
The Shimmering
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 51 x 41 x 0.001 cm Photography - 20.1 x 16.1 x 0 inch
$970
Every Song
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 101 x 76 x 0.001 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 x 0 inch
$2,238
Green Candle
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 61 x 51 x 0.001 cm Photography - 24 x 20.1 x 0 inch
$1,346
Takala
Les demi-pointes - Série Les Caprices de Madame Bovary
Takala
Photography - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$841
Le voile - Série Ballets nocturnes et diurnes
Takala
Photography - 92.5 x 132 x 4 cm Photography - 36.4 x 52 x 1.6 inch
$2,805
La plume - Série Les Caprices de Madame Bovary
Takala
Photography - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$841
Les escarpins" - Série Les Caprices de Madame Bovary
Takala
Photography - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$841
Le collier - Série Les Caprices de Madame Bovary
Takala
Photography - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$841
Le fil - Série Ballets nocturnes et diurnes
Takala
Photography - 92.5 x 132 x 4 cm Photography - 36.4 x 52 x 1.6 inch
$2,805
La chaise - Série Ballets nocturnes et diurnes
Takala
Photography - 92.5 x 132 x 4 cm Photography - 36.4 x 52 x 1.6 inch
$2,805
La Blessure - Série Ballets nocturnes et diurnes
Takala
Photography - 92.5 x 132 x 4 cm Photography - 36.4 x 52 x 1.6 inch
$2,805
Alexander Benz
Architects Anonymous
Alexander Benz
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$2,019
Dans le Metro
Alexander Benz
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$2,019
Structural Beauty
Alexander Benz
Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$516