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?
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Jour d’été sur les quais, 2019-2022
Irène Jonas
Photography - 18 x 27 cm Photography - 7.1 x 10.6 inch
€500
Libraires sur Seine, 2019-2022
Irène Jonas
Photography - 18 x 27 cm Photography - 7.1 x 10.6 inch
€500
Autos Tamponneuse (3)
Irène Jonas
Photography - 13 x 19 x 0.1 cm Photography - 5.1 x 7.5 x 0 inch
€500
Soft With Scars
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 41 x 30 x 0.01 cm Photography - 16.1 x 11.8 x 0 inch
€465
California poppy
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
€465
Conversation improbable
Irène Jonas
Photography - 19 x 13 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.5 x 5.1 x 0 inch
€500
Conscience
Cyrille Charro
Photography - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Photography - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
€1,500 €1,050
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
€4,573
Satyr, Drawing Restraint 7, Matthew Barney studio, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 61 x 43.2 x 0.3 cm Photography - 24 x 17 x 0.1 inch
€3,659
Matthew Barney Portrait
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 61 x 43.2 x 0.3 cm Photography - 24 x 17 x 0.1 inch
€3,659
Matthew Barney Portrait
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 61 x 43.2 x 0.3 cm Photography - 24 x 17 x 0.1 inch
€3,659
Matthew Barney, Isle of Man
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 61 x 43.2 x 0.3 cm Photography - 24 x 17 x 0.1 inch
€3,659
Satyr, Drawing Restraint 7, Matthew Barney studio, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 43.2 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 17 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€3,659
Matthew Barney, Cremaster 5
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 43.2 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 17 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€3,659
Constance (Girlfriend), NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
Tabboo! Wigstock, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
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
€4,573
TThe Last Sea, Skull, Brandon, Diptych
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
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
€4,573
Gypsy - L'Ombre de Toi - Meme, Paris
Julie Peiffer
Photography - 80 x 80 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 inch
€910
L'escalier. 6,09 m crue de la Seine
Julie Peiffer
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.04 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
€1,500
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
€2,900
Still life with Tulips, Garden Gloves and a Fluted Opalina Vase, Antwerp
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 203.2 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 80 x 60 x 0.1 inch
€13,720
God will take the form I need
Sofia Alazraki
Photography - 110 x 86 x 0.2 cm Photography - 43.3 x 33.9 x 0.1 inch
€2,744
Autos tamponneuses (2)
Irène Jonas
Photography - 13 x 19 x 0.1 cm Photography - 5.1 x 7.5 x 0 inch
€500
Autos tamponneuses (1)
Irène Jonas
Photography - 13 x 19 x 0.1 cm Photography - 5.1 x 7.5 x 0 inch
€500
Alabama Street. From the series Lost in transition
Ying Chen
Photography - 203.2 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 80 x 60 x 0.1 inch
€3,659
Atlanta high museum
Ying Chen
Photography - 203.2 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 80 x 60 x 0.1 inch
€3,659
Atlanta skyline
Ying Chen
Photography - 203.2 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 80 x 60 x 0.1 inch
€3,659
Peachtree Street
Ying Chen
Photography - 203.2 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 80 x 60 x 0.1 inch
€3,659
Plaza and viaduct
Ying Chen
Photography - 203.2 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 80 x 60 x 0.1 inch
€3,659
But still punk
Norman Reedus
Photography - 40.64 x 50.8 x 2 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 0.8 inch
€2,300
Gaudí 30
Ivanna Alejandra Sanchez Moretti
Photography - 40 x 30 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 inch
€400
Desvelando Gaudí 012
Ivanna Alejandra Sanchez Moretti
Photography - 40 x 30 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 inch
€400
Desvelando Gaudí 013
Ivanna Alejandra Sanchez Moretti
Photography - 40 x 30 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 inch
€400
Still Life with Pink Tulips and an Opalina Vase, Antwerp
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
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
€4,573
Still life with a White Tulip and a Green Opalina Vase, Antwerp
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
Still life with Tulips, and a Pale Blue Opalina Vase, Antwerp
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
Still life with Tulips, a Ladder 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
€4,573
Still life with a shell and a rope, Paris
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
Still life with a Wooden Hanger, Antwerp
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
Still life with a Broken Vase, n.d.
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
Still Life with a Coral Branch and a Crystal Globe, NYC, 2002
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
One Pink Rose, n.d.
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
O, Hyacinthus (Diptych)
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 inch
€4,573
Ham Lands
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 151 x 101 x 0.01 cm Photography - 59.4 x 39.8 x 0 inch
€2,795
Honey Moon
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 151 x 101 x 0.01 cm Photography - 59.4 x 39.8 x 0 inch
€2,795
Salisbury Plain
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 151 x 101 x 0.01 cm Photography - 59.4 x 39.8 x 0 inch
€2,795
West Of The Day II
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 151 x 101 x 0.01 cm Photography - 59.4 x 39.8 x 0 inch
€2,795
You are a story
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 151 x 101 x 0.01 cm Photography - 59.4 x 39.8 x 0 inch
€2,795
Glasto II
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 151 x 101 x 0.01 cm Photography - 59.4 x 39.8 x 0 inch
€2,795
Sweet Night
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 151 x 101 x 0.01 cm Photography - 59.4 x 39.8 x 0 inch
€2,795
Stay A While
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 151 x 101 x 0.01 cm Photography - 59.4 x 39.8 x 0 inch
€2,795
Faces In The Crowd II
Justin Pumfrey
Photography - 151 x 101 x 0.01 cm Photography - 59.4 x 39.8 x 0 inch
€2,795
Keeper of the Forest
Héléna Palazzi
Photography - 89 x 71 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35 x 28 x 0 inch
€900
Shield Maiden, III
Héléna Palazzi
Photography - 89 x 71 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35 x 28 x 0 inch
€900
