{"id":114821,"date":"2018-10-08T11:34:31","date_gmt":"2018-10-08T18:34:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=114821"},"modified":"2018-10-08T11:34:58","modified_gmt":"2018-10-08T18:34:58","slug":"clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Shoot a Clear and Obscure (Chiaroscuro) Photography Composition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>To make better photos, play between clear and obscure:<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>Chiaroscuro<\/h2>\n<p>There is an Italian word called, &#8216;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chiaroscuro\">chiaroscuro<\/a>&#8216;: which means the play between dark-and-light (also known as contrast).<\/p>\n<p>The words are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>chiaro (clear, bright &#8212; from the latin &#8216;clarus&#8217;)<\/li>\n<li>oscuro (dark, obscure&#8211; from the latin &#8216;obscurus&#8217;)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Why clear and obscure?<\/h2>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114824\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/exif_jpeg_picture-31\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00005.jpg?fit=3648%2C2736&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3648,2736\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR DIGITAL 3&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Exif_JPEG_PICTURE&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1308716963&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;6&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.33333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Exif_JPEG_PICTURE&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Exif_JPEG_PICTURE\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Exif_JPEG_PICTURE&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00005.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-114824\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00005-1000x750.jpg?resize=1000%2C750\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00005.jpg?resize=1000%2C750&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00005.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00005.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00005.jpg?resize=830%2C623&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00005.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is my idea:<\/p>\n<p>To make better pictures, use aesthetics which obscure some parts of your photos (dark shadows), and parts of your photos which are clear.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Smoke<\/h2>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114825\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/eric-kim-night-photography00025-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00025.jpg?fit=2912%2C4368&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2912,4368\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;11&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1316360276&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.02&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ERIC KIM NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY00025\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00025.jpg?fit=1333%2C2000&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114825\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00025-1000x1500.jpg?resize=1000%2C1500\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00025.jpg?resize=1000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00025.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00025.jpg?resize=1333%2C2000&amp;ssl=1 1333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00025.jpg?resize=830%2C1245&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00025.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I love film noir, especially <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikiquote.org\/wiki\/Orson_Welles\">Orson Welles<\/a> films (like Citizen Kane).<\/p>\n<p>When watching a lot of these films, I love the obscured smoke or light (from Citizen Kane):<\/p>\n<div class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular tiled-gallery-unresized\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-carousel-extra='{&quot;blog_id&quot;:1,&quot;permalink&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/erickimphotography.com\\\/blog\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\\\/&quot;,&quot;likes_blog_id&quot;:14343255}' itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageGallery\" > <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 106px;\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-original-height=\"106\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 167px; height: 106px;\" data-original-width=\"167\" data-original-height=\"106\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/citizen-kane-cinematography69\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"163\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"102\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114827\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography69.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2880,1800\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"citizen kane cinematography69\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography69.jpg?fit=1000%2C625&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography69.jpg?fit=2000%2C1250&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography69.jpg?w=163&#038;h=102&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography69.jpg?w=2880&amp;ssl=1 2880w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography69.jpg?resize=1000%2C625&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography69.jpg?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography69.jpg?resize=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography69.jpg?resize=830%2C519&amp;ssl=1 830w\" width=\"163\" height=\"102\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"163\" data-original-height=\"102\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"citizen kane cinematography69\" alt=\"citizen kane cinematography69\" style=\"width: 163px; height: 102px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 167px; height: 106px;\" data-original-width=\"167\" data-original-height=\"106\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/citizen-kane-cinematography70\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"163\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"102\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114828\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography70.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2880,1800\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"citizen kane cinematography70\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography70.jpg?fit=1000%2C625&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography70.jpg?fit=2000%2C1250&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography70.jpg?w=163&#038;h=102&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography70.jpg?w=2880&amp;ssl=1 2880w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography70.jpg?resize=1000%2C625&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography70.jpg?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography70.jpg?resize=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography70.jpg?resize=830%2C519&amp;ssl=1 830w\" width=\"163\" height=\"102\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"163\" data-original-height=\"102\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"citizen kane cinematography70\" alt=\"citizen kane cinematography70\" style=\"width: 163px; height: 102px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 166px; height: 106px;\" data-original-width=\"166\" data-original-height=\"106\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/citizen-kane-cinematography72\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"162\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"102\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114829\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography72-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2880,1800\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"citizen kane cinematography72\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography72-scaled.jpg?fit=1000%2C625&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography72-scaled.jpg?fit=2000%2C1250&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography72-scaled.jpg?w=162&#038;h=102&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"162\" height=\"102\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"162\" data-original-height=\"102\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"citizen kane cinematography72\" alt=\"citizen kane cinematography72\" style=\"width: 162px; height: 102px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <\/div>\n<p>Especially note when the faces are obscured:<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114831\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/citizen-kane-cinematography78\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography78.jpg?fit=2880%2C1800&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2880,1800\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"citizen kane cinematography78\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography78.jpg?fit=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114831\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography78-1000x625.jpg?resize=1000%2C625\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography78.jpg?resize=1000%2C625&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography78.jpg?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography78.jpg?resize=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography78.jpg?resize=830%2C519&amp;ssl=1 830w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114832\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/citizen-kane-cinematography79\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography79.jpg?fit=2880%2C1800&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2880,1800\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"citizen kane cinematography79\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography79.jpg?fit=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114832\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography79-1000x625.jpg?resize=1000%2C625\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography79.jpg?resize=1000%2C625&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography79.jpg?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography79.jpg?resize=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography79.jpg?resize=830%2C519&amp;ssl=1 830w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114833\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/citizen-kane-cinematography80\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography80.jpg?fit=2880%2C1800&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2880,1800\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"citizen kane cinematography80\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography80.jpg?fit=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114833\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography80-1000x625.jpg?resize=1000%2C625\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography80.jpg?resize=1000%2C625&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography80.jpg?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography80.jpg?resize=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography80.jpg?resize=830%2C519&amp;ssl=1 830w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114834\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/citizen-kane-cinematography92\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography92.jpg?fit=2880%2C1800&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2880,1800\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"citizen kane cinematography92\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography92.jpg?fit=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114834\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography92-1000x625.jpg?resize=1000%2C625\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography92.jpg?resize=1000%2C625&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography92.jpg?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography92.jpg?resize=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography92.jpg?resize=830%2C519&amp;ssl=1 830w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114835\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/citizen-kane-cinematography93\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography93.jpg?fit=2880%2C1800&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2880,1800\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"citizen kane cinematography93\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography93.jpg?fit=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114835\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography93-1000x625.jpg?resize=1000%2C625\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography93.jpg?resize=1000%2C625&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography93.jpg?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography93.jpg?resize=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography93.jpg?resize=830%2C519&amp;ssl=1 830w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now the question is this:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\n  Why do obscured faces or scenes interest us?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>My theory:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\n  When your pictures are partially obscured, it forces the viewer to use their imagination to &#8216;fill in the blanks&#8217; of the scene.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This causes your viewers to be more engaged with your scenes &#8212; and thus, truly analyze your pictures more!<\/p>\n<div class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular tiled-gallery-unresized\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-carousel-extra='{&quot;blog_id&quot;:1,&quot;permalink&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/erickimphotography.com\\\/blog\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\\\/&quot;,&quot;likes_blog_id&quot;:14343255}' itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageGallery\" > <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 106px;\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-original-height=\"106\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 167px; height: 106px;\" data-original-width=\"167\" data-original-height=\"106\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/citizen-kane-cinematography99\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"163\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"102\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114836\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography99.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2880,1800\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"citizen kane cinematography99\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography99.jpg?fit=1000%2C625&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography99.jpg?fit=2000%2C1250&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography99.jpg?w=163&#038;h=102&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography99.jpg?w=2880&amp;ssl=1 2880w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography99.jpg?resize=1000%2C625&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography99.jpg?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography99.jpg?resize=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography99.jpg?resize=830%2C519&amp;ssl=1 830w\" width=\"163\" height=\"102\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"163\" data-original-height=\"102\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"citizen kane cinematography99\" alt=\"citizen kane cinematography99\" style=\"width: 163px; height: 102px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 167px; height: 106px;\" data-original-width=\"167\" data-original-height=\"106\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/citizen-kane-cinematography100\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"163\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"102\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114837\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography100-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2880,1800\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"citizen kane cinematography100\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography100-scaled.jpg?fit=1000%2C625&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography100-scaled.jpg?fit=2000%2C1250&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography100-scaled.jpg?w=163&#038;h=102&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"163\" height=\"102\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"163\" data-original-height=\"102\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"citizen kane cinematography100\" alt=\"citizen kane cinematography100\" style=\"width: 163px; height: 102px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 166px; height: 106px;\" data-original-width=\"166\" data-original-height=\"106\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/citizen-kane-cinematography101\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"162\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"102\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114838\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography101.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2880,1800\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"citizen kane cinematography101\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography101.jpg?fit=1000%2C625&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography101.jpg?fit=2000%2C1250&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography101.jpg?w=162&#038;h=102&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography101.jpg?w=2880&amp;ssl=1 2880w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography101.jpg?resize=1000%2C625&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography101.jpg?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography101.jpg?resize=2000%2C1250&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/citizen-kane-cinematography101.jpg?resize=830%2C519&amp;ssl=1 830w\" width=\"162\" height=\"102\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"162\" data-original-height=\"102\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"citizen kane cinematography101\" alt=\"citizen kane cinematography101\" style=\"width: 162px; height: 102px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Obscured faces<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular tiled-gallery-unresized\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-carousel-extra='{&quot;blog_id&quot;:1,&quot;permalink&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/erickimphotography.com\\\/blog\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\\\/&quot;,&quot;likes_blog_id&quot;:14343255}' itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageGallery\" > <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 375px;\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-original-height=\"375\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 375px;\" data-original-width=\"250\" data-original-height=\"375\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/05\/monochrome-is-magical\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-9-2\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"246\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"371\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114790\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-9.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"2000,3020\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"eric kim photography abstract 2018 9\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-9.jpeg?fit=1000%2C1510&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-9.jpeg?fit=1325%2C2000&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-9.jpeg?w=246&#038;h=371&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-9.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-9.jpeg?resize=1000%2C1510&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-9.jpeg?resize=768%2C1160&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-9.jpeg?resize=1325%2C2000&amp;ssl=1 1325w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-9.jpeg?resize=830%2C1253&amp;ssl=1 830w\" width=\"246\" height=\"371\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"246\" data-original-height=\"371\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"eric kim photography abstract 2018 9\" alt=\"eric kim photography abstract 2018 9\" style=\"width: 246px; height: 371px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 375px;\" data-original-width=\"250\" data-original-height=\"375\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/05\/monochrome-is-magical\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8-2\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"246\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"371\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114789\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"3264,4928\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486804828&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;ERIC KIM PHOTOGRAPHY&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1600&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0013333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"eric kim photography abstract 2018 8\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8.jpg?fit=1000%2C1510&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8.jpg?fit=1325%2C2000&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8.jpg?w=246&#038;h=371&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8.jpg?w=3264&amp;ssl=1 3264w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8.jpg?resize=1000%2C1510&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8.jpg?resize=768%2C1160&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&amp;ssl=1 1325w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8.jpg?resize=830%2C1253&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eric-kim-photography-abstract-2018-8.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" width=\"246\" height=\"371\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"246\" data-original-height=\"371\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"eric kim photography abstract 2018 8\" alt=\"eric kim photography abstract 2018 8\" style=\"width: 246px; height: 371px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 223px;\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-original-height=\"223\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 334px; height: 223px;\" data-original-width=\"334\" data-original-height=\"223\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/05\/monochrome-is-magical\/kyoto-street-photography-eric-kim8-4\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"330\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"219\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114780\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KYOTO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-ERIC-KIM8.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"4928,3264\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1479467550&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1600&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"KYOTO STREET PHOTOGRAPHY &amp;#8211; ERIC KIM8\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KYOTO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-ERIC-KIM8.jpg?fit=1000%2C662&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KYOTO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-ERIC-KIM8.jpg?fit=2000%2C1325&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KYOTO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-ERIC-KIM8.jpg?w=330&#038;h=219&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KYOTO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-ERIC-KIM8.jpg?w=4928&amp;ssl=1 4928w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KYOTO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-ERIC-KIM8.jpg?resize=1000%2C662&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KYOTO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-ERIC-KIM8.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KYOTO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-ERIC-KIM8.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KYOTO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-ERIC-KIM8.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KYOTO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-ERIC-KIM8.jpg?resize=830%2C550&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KYOTO-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY-ERIC-KIM8.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" width=\"330\" height=\"219\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"330\" data-original-height=\"219\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"KYOTO STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - ERIC KIM8\" alt=\"KYOTO STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - ERIC KIM8\" style=\"width: 330px; height: 219px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-2\" style=\"width: 166px; height: 223px;\" data-original-width=\"166\" data-original-height=\"223\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/05\/monochrome-is-magical\/eric-kim-street-photography5-9\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"162\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"107\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114779\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY5.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"4928,3264\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1484400194&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;ERIC KIM PHOTOGRAPHY&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0013333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY5\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY5.jpg?fit=1000%2C662&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY5.jpg?fit=2000%2C1325&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY5.jpg?w=162&#038;h=107&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY5.jpg?w=4928&amp;ssl=1 4928w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY5.jpg?resize=1000%2C662&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY5.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY5.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY5.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY5.jpg?resize=830%2C550&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY5.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" width=\"162\" height=\"107\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"162\" data-original-height=\"107\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY5\" alt=\"ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY5\" style=\"width: 162px; height: 107px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/05\/monochrome-is-magical\/eric-kim-street-photography1-8\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"162\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"108\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114778\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"3936,2608\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1482608568&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;3200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY1.jpg?fit=1000%2C663&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY1.jpg?fit=2000%2C1325&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY1.jpg?w=162&#038;h=108&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY1.jpg?w=3936&amp;ssl=1 3936w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY1.jpg?resize=1000%2C663&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY1.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY1.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY1.jpg?resize=830%2C550&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-STREET-PHOTOGRAPHY1.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" width=\"162\" height=\"108\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"162\" data-original-height=\"108\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY1\" alt=\"ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY1\" style=\"width: 162px; height: 108px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 333px;\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-original-height=\"333\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 333px;\" data-original-width=\"500\" data-original-height=\"333\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/05\/monochrome-is-magical\/eric-kim-portrait-selfie12-4\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"496\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"329\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"114776\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE12.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"4928,3264\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1482683105&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ERIC KIM PORTRAIT &amp;#8211; SELFIE12\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE12.jpg?fit=1000%2C662&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE12.jpg?fit=2000%2C1325&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE12.jpg?w=496&#038;h=329&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE12.jpg?w=4928&amp;ssl=1 4928w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE12.jpg?resize=1000%2C662&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE12.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE12.jpg?resize=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE12.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE12.jpg?resize=830%2C550&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-PORTRAIT-SELFIE12.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" width=\"496\" height=\"329\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"496\" data-original-height=\"329\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"ERIC KIM PORTRAIT - SELFIE12\" alt=\"ERIC KIM PORTRAIT - SELFIE12\" style=\"width: 496px; height: 329px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <\/div>\n<p>When you obscure the faces of your subjects, the photos become more mysterious. The more mysterious your pictures, the more you engage your viewer!<\/p>\n<p>A simple way to obscure your subjects is to shoot with -1 or -2 exposure-compensation, or increase the &#8216;contrast&#8217; or the &#8216;blacks&#8217; slider in post-processing. Another thing you can do in post-processing is to &#8220;burn&#8221; (darken) the faces of your subjects, like I did in this picture:<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114763\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/05\/monochrome-is-magical\/dark-skies-over-tokyo-eric-kim4-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dark-skies-over-tokyo-eric-kim4.jpg?fit=4616%2C3072&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"4616,3072\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;16&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;M9 Digital Camera&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1322604171&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"dark skies over tokyo &amp;#8211; eric kim4\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dark-skies-over-tokyo-eric-kim4.jpg?fit=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dark-skies-over-tokyo-eric-kim4-1000x666.jpg?resize=1000%2C666\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dark-skies-over-tokyo-eric-kim4.jpg?resize=1000%2C666&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dark-skies-over-tokyo-eric-kim4.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dark-skies-over-tokyo-eric-kim4.jpg?resize=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dark-skies-over-tokyo-eric-kim4.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dark-skies-over-tokyo-eric-kim4.jpg?resize=830%2C552&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/dark-skies-over-tokyo-eric-kim4.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>However you can see if I increase the brightness, the information of the light on his face is still here:<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114840\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/tokyo-bright\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tokyo-bright.jpg?fit=4616%2C3072&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"4616,3072\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;16&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;M9 Digital Camera&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1322604171&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"tokyo bright\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tokyo-bright.jpg?fit=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tokyo-bright-1000x666.jpg?resize=1000%2C666\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114840\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tokyo-bright.jpg?resize=1000%2C666&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tokyo-bright.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tokyo-bright.jpg?resize=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tokyo-bright.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tokyo-bright.jpg?resize=830%2C552&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tokyo-bright.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Aesthetically, of course the second picture is uglier. Why? Not enough darkness and mystery.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Selective obscuring<\/h2>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114841\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/eric-kim-night-photography00032-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00032.jpg?fit=5212%2C3468&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"5212,3468\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;16&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;M9 Digital Camera&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1320386733&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;35&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.022222222222222&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ERIC KIM NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY00032\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00032.jpg?fit=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00032-1000x665.jpg?resize=1000%2C665\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00032.jpg?resize=1000%2C665&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00032.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00032.jpg?resize=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00032.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00032.jpg?resize=830%2C552&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00032.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Another idea:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\n  Obscure part of the subject&#8217;s face&#8211; with their hands, or visual elements.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>For example the picture above with the woman covering her face with her hands. The mystery of her hand-gesture obscures part of her face, which makes it more interesting to look at.<\/p>\n<p>Or note this picture of this woman I photographed in Tokyo &#8212; her face is obscured, but her eye is clear:<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114842\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/eric-kim-night-photography00069-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00069.jpg?fit=4616%2C3072&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"4616,3072\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;M9 Digital Camera&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1322559579&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;35&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.083333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ERIC KIM NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY00069\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00069.jpg?fit=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00069-1000x666.jpg?resize=1000%2C666\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00069.jpg?resize=1000%2C666&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00069.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00069.jpg?resize=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00069.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00069.jpg?resize=830%2C552&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00069.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Or another picture&#8211; when you obscure the face of the subject, and only show their hands:<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114843\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/eric-kim-night-photography00153-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00153.jpg?fit=5212%2C3468&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"5212,3468\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;M9 Digital Camera&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1317490769&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;35&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ERIC KIM NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY00153\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00153.jpg?fit=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00153-1000x665.jpg?resize=1000%2C665\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114843\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00153.jpg?resize=1000%2C665&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00153.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00153.jpg?resize=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00153.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00153.jpg?resize=830%2C552&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00153.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"114844\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/08\/clear-and-obscure-chiaroscuro-photography-composition\/eric-kim-night-photography00027-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00027.jpg?fit=3468%2C5212&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3468,5212\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;M9 Digital Camera&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1318715443&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;35&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.083333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ERIC KIM NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY00027\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00027.jpg?fit=1331%2C2000&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00027-1000x1503.jpg?resize=1000%2C1503\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1503\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114844\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00027.jpg?resize=1000%2C1503&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00027.jpg?resize=768%2C1154&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00027.jpg?resize=1331%2C2000&amp;ssl=1 1331w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00027.jpg?resize=830%2C1247&amp;ssl=1 830w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00027.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00027.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Practical takeaways:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Obscure part of your subject&#8217;s face.<\/li>\n<li>Make your photos more mysterious by determining what <em>NOT<\/em> to show in your picture.<\/li>\n<li>Try shooting high-contrast black and white, and process with <a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/product\/eric-kim-lightroom-presets\/\">ERIC KIM Monochrome 1600 preset<\/a> to achieve this mysterious high-contrast black and white imagery.<\/li>\n<li>Use a <a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/16\/flash-street-photography-guide\/\">flash<\/a> to make some parts of your photo clear and visible. Also experiment with using a slower shutter-speed with a flash (like 1\/15th of a second).<\/li>\n<li>Watch film noir to study &#8216;Chiaroscuro&#8217; (contrast between dark and light). For example, Citizen Kane, The Third Man, or &#8216;The Killing&#8217; by <a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/kubrick\/\">Stanley Kubrick<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>ERIC<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/composition\/\">Composition 101 ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To make better photos, play between clear and obscure:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":114824,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-114821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-posts"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ERIC-KIM-NIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY00005.jpg?fit=3648%2C2736&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114821","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114821"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114821\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":114847,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114821\/revisions\/114847"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/114824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}