Emulating Paolo Pellegrin

subseasniper

subseasniper

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Hi everyone.

I don't know if this should be in this section or the post processing area.

I was lucky enough to bag a copy of Paolo Pellegrin's 'As I was Dying' monograph last year and was left stunned at this guys style.

I love the grain, contrast and weird vignetting effects he gets in his pics. I thought he must still be shooting film but apparently he shoots digital so he must do something to get the distinctive look of his shots.

I have been messing about with in camera settings on my 40D, shooting RAW set to mono with amped contrast and very high ISO but the look still ain't there.

Any tips on how to achieve that distinctive look of his (the style and quality is something I can only dream of achieving).

Cheers.
 
I sense a sort of Robert Capa style to some of those shots similar to the Normandy landing series where he had no time to even focus, just click and see what came out. I actually quite like them.

Andy
 
Andysnap said:
...Robert Capa style to some of those shots similar to the Normandy landing series where he had no time to even focus, just click and see what came out...
Click to expand...

The S***-Scared approach to photo-journalism...:lol:
Years ago I wondered why he only shot three rolls of film before hopping back onto a Landing-Craft and returning to london...

Then I read an account by him of that day: It was because he only had 3 Leicas and his hands were shaking so much he couldn't change film (though it has to be said that changing film in an old Leica is a lot more fiddly than even a 'modern' M6 and nothing like a film-SLR...you had to practically dismantle the camera...)...

...and as to the accidental destruction of most of them by then-office junior Larry Burrows: he was philosophical about it - maybe some things weren't meant to be seen...he was glad enough to be able to get off the beach intact...
 
I can only find small-ish shots so it's hard to see properly what he's doing, I'd guess if you up the contrast in photoshop add noise and some odd vignettes you should get close-ish.
 
I hadn't heard of him either, after a quick google I found he's a Magnum guy... the shots of his in the Magnum book are immense.

Not sure what he'll be doing in camera to get that "look". More chances of running it through with Photo Shop.

Boosted black, ISO grain or texture layer, upped contrast maybe, but he uses light so we'll that the focused (or un-focused as is sometimes the case) subject stands out immediately.

Don't think I like the movement in some of the shots, but where it's used it seems appropriate to the nature/drama of the scene and certainly adds to it.
 
Arkady said:
The S***-Scared approach to photo-journalism...:lol:
Years ago I wondered why he only shot three rolls of film before hopping back onto a Landing-Craft and returning to london...

Then I read an account by him of that day: It was because he only had 3 Leicas and his hands were shaking so much he couldn't change film (though it has to be said that changing film in an old Leica is a lot more fiddly than even a 'modern' M6 and nothing like a film-SLR...you had to practically dismantle the camera...)...

...and as to the accidental destruction of most of them by then-office junior Larry Burrows: he was philosophical about it - maybe some things weren't meant to be seen...he was glad enough to be able to get off the beach intact...
Click to expand...

I always enjoy reading your posts. I never knew any of that.
 
Cheers guys, I am suprised Pellegrin isn't more well known, he is touted as being the pre-eminent photo journalist of the last decade. Don't know if that is right (or even quanitifiable) but his work is awesome. His monograph 'As I Was Dying' contains a blurry shot of a man wielding a machete at the photographer, properly freaky but very effective. Will give the photoshop side a go. I see his other monograph 'Double Bind' is on Amazon for a reasonable price, could be worth snapping up.
 
shoot with adox CHS 25 film

subseasniper said:
Hi everyone.

I don't know if this should be in this section or the post processing area.

I was lucky enough to bag a copy of Paolo Pellegrin's 'As I was Dying' monograph last year and was left stunned at this guys style.

I love the grain, contrast and weird vignetting effects he gets in his pics. I thought he must still be shooting film but apparently he shoots digital so he must do something to get the distinctive look of his shots.

I have been messing about with in camera settings on my 40D, shooting RAW set to mono with amped contrast and very high ISO but the look still ain't there.

Any tips on how to achieve that distinctive look of his (the style and quality is something I can only dream of achieving).

Cheers.
Click to expand...
 
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