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Thread: Alfred Hitchcock - incredible reference for deep deep blacks

  1. #1
    bob carnie's Avatar
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    Alfred Hitchcock - incredible reference for deep deep blacks

    I happened to watch a segment on TV the other night on Alfred Hitchcock explaining some of the behind the scenes of one of his movies.

    I was completely blown away by the black white footage... Not only were the shadows blocked up , so were the quarter tones, which left only mid to upper highlight details.
    He was wearing a black suit and it was actually haloing or bleeding as he walked through the scene... what a beautiful effect..

    I cannot help wondering how little importance he placed on a full scale image, and I am now much more convinced that full range is not critical for great prints.

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    Re: Alfred Hitchcock - incredible reference for deep deep blacks

    Hitchcock was a genius for sure. As for a full range not being critical, I think that really depends on the subject, what you want to say and how dramatic you want it to be.
    "I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White

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    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: Alfred Hitchcock - incredible reference for deep deep blacks

    Another with harsh lighting that worked was Orson Welles' Touch of Evil.

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    bob carnie's Avatar
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    Re: Alfred Hitchcock - incredible reference for deep deep blacks

    when you say harsh lighting I suspect you mean a very large lighting ratio... I cannot help but think that there was some developing adjustments to that film as the bleed of black was very noticeble
    It almost seemed like he put a black stocking over the lens that made the blacks blur.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jac@stafford.net View Post
    Another with harsh lighting that worked was Orson Welles' Touch of Evil.

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    Re: Alfred Hitchcock - incredible reference for deep deep blacks

    I'm confused. Was the effect you described in his films or in the documentary? Can it just be an effect of poor-quality repro? halo-ing suggests bad transfer to video. Hitchcock and/or his DPs were real masters so one wonders if you were seeing anyone's original intent.

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    bob carnie's Avatar
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    Re: Alfred Hitchcock - incredible reference for deep deep blacks

    It was a backstage doc about the making of the Birds..
    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Sampson View Post
    I'm confused. Was the effect you described in his films or in the documentary? Can it just be an effect of poor-quality repro? halo-ing suggests bad transfer to video. Hitchcock and/or his DPs were real masters so one wonders if you were seeing anyone's original intent.

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    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: Alfred Hitchcock - incredible reference for deep deep blacks

    Quote Originally Posted by bob carnie View Post
    when you say harsh lighting I suspect you mean a very large lighting ratio... I cannot help but think that there was some developing adjustments to that film as the bleed of black was very noticeble
    It almost seemed like he put a black stocking over the lens that made the blacks blur.
    Yes, lighting ratio.

    I've seen two, one being a poor copy or aged film. Could that be the difference?

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    bob carnie's Avatar
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    Re: Alfred Hitchcock - incredible reference for deep deep blacks

    Maybe but whatever it is the look is quite striking and I like it.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jac@stafford.net View Post
    Yes, lighting ratio.

    I've seen two, one being a poor copy or aged film. Could that be the difference?

  9. #9
    bob carnie's Avatar
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    Re: Alfred Hitchcock - incredible reference for deep deep blacks

    The more I think about it I think you are right, as this kind of look I have never seen in motion film.. I have seen some prints made this way, but for Alfred Hitchcock to have this go out to the general public I think not.
    It may have been something like a fifth generation copy, everytime we copy something we lose , but the high end seemed good.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jac@stafford.net View Post
    Yes, lighting ratio.

    I've seen two, one being a poor copy or aged film. Could that be the difference?

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    Re: Alfred Hitchcock - incredible reference for deep deep blacks

    That's why original prints are so important to maintain, they preserve as much as possible, the cinematographer's and director's original intent.

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