I searched for a set of black window blinds to use in a couple of ideas I had for a noir-ish look I was trying to get. You can’t get them at the hardware store – just shades of white and wood. Amazon had some for about 8 dollars. Then came the hard part – light shot through the blinds didn’t create a focused shadow the way you’d expect. You need a hard light either a long distance from the blind or focused with a lens to get a strong shadow. I tore apart a very old slide projector and created a focusing “nose” for a snooted strobe. Here’s the kind of shadow I wanted to create.
The shadows and hard light creates a noir look that I really like. My model was very co-operative and helpful with a very appropriate hair-do, dress and facial expression.
Taking one of two focusing lenses off allowed the background to hold the blind pattern, but smoothed out the light on the model. The snooted, gridded strobe still provides a nice key light.
I thought it would be fun to shoot through the blind. Good eyes!