There is a review of this exhibit in today’s Washington Post. “Star Power” at The National Portrait Gallery (March 1, 2024 – January 5, 2025). The exhibit is primarily work from the 1930’s.
I discovered Hurrell’s work in 2012. After making a photograph at a rehearsal that I really liked. And realized how little I understood about lighting. Very embarrassing for an ex-Fine Arts Major. Set out to fix my ignorance. And I did.
I found most of the technical answers in the free Kodak Essential Reference Guide For Film Makers in the Chapter on “Lighting”. I married that with my knowledge of keys and mood. The implementation took longer – months on eBay & Craigslist finding Mini & Midget Mole Richardson Tungsten Fresnels that fit my budget. Ended up with these. Which have since been passed on.
And within a year, when time and schedule allowed, my portraits sessions became much more satisfying.
Hurrell used a big, 8×10 film view camera. Editing was done on the negatives with powdered graphite and glue -even with Hollywood Studio Hair & Makeup budgets, a luxury I had only once, with a magazine cover shoot.
There is a Studio in Paris still doing this sort of work – “Studio Harcourt”. Starting at 999 Euros.
And so it goes
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