Peter Coulson's Signature `Halo Look`: A Deep Dive into a Recognizable Photographic Style
Acclaimed Australian photographer Peter Coulson is renowned for his striking black-and-white portraiture, often characterized by a visually compelling feature he terms the "halo look."
This distinctive aesthetic, which imparts a subtle glow around his subjects, has garnered admiration for its artistic flair and has become a well-known aspect of his work. This video explores the nuances of Coulson's signature style, its conceptual origins, his methods of creation, and how elements of this look might be approached.
The Genesis of the Halo: From Darkroom Inspiration to Digital Execution
Peter Coulson's explanation points towards a digital interpretation of traditional darkroom techniques for the origin of his halo effect, rather than it stemming directly from inherent chemical properties of over-contrasted medium-format film.
He likens the "halo look" to the visual outcome one might achieve with dodging and burning on large format film prints, where localized contrast adjustments could create a similar ethereal outline.
While Coulson is a dedicated Hasselblad user, he clarifies that the effect is not an inadvertent reproduction by early Hasselblad software. Instead, he explains that he achieves his signature halo primarily through deliberate manipulation in Hasselblad's proprietary software, Phocus.
Specifically, he utilizes tools such as the clarity slider to meticulously craft this localized contrast, enhancing the separation between subject and background with a subtle, glowing edge.
He has also demonstrated methods to replicate this effect using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, indicating it's a developed digital technique rather than a software artifact or a direct emulation of a specific film and chemical process.
A Distinctive Aesthetic: Artistic Flair and Reception
The "halo look" is a key component of Peter Coulson's recognizable style and has certainly contributed to his significant following. Many photographers and enthusiasts admire the dramatic and ethereal quality it lends to his portraits, viewing it as an artistic enhancement that makes his subjects pop.
In conclusion, Peter Coulson's "halo look" is a deliberately crafted and signature element of his black-and-white photography. Rooted in an appreciation for traditional darkroom aesthetics but executed through modern digital tools, it remains a compelling example of a photographer developing a unique visual style.
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