Has anyone noticed the impenetrable look of so many streaming shows these days? Don’t get me wrong. I’m a cinematographer! I love the look and feel of the dark, low-lit, subdued-exposure approach. But in these cases, the photography can only be defined as an indecipherable mess.
I’ve commented on the subject before, but without naming names, the example that stands out is a highly-promoted original that recently debuted on Apple+. With a good narrative and top-notch talent across the board, there would be nothing to criticize save for one small issue: You couldn’t see any of it! The settings on my TV were not the problem. Along with several others I consulted, it was properly calibrated. I’m telling you – as far as watching this show was concerned, it was like listening to the radio.
I can’t imagine the cinematographer being blamed for this. Instead, I’d look to the producers and showrunners who hold the true power over what goes out to the public. What were these people thinking? Let’s suppose they signed off on something more reasonable in the DI suite. Let’s also suppose the material then suffered some sort of mishap before reaching our homes. Even so, a simple phone call on their part would’ve restored a saner level of brightness.
This show is hardly an anomaly. There are plenty of excessively dark ones out there that I defy anybody to claim as watchable.
I don’t know… Is it me?
Note well: Whenever I say that, you can be sure of one thing – it isn’t me.
Comments or reactions?
100%
It’s many of us, We’ve been trying to decipher this trend for a few years now.
Not only the clarity and depth issue, it’s the color or lack there of.
Dark and yellow…..is all that I can say about some of the shows.
However, they get nominated for the various awards that are associated with the “look”.
That is equally a disappointment..
richard- “name that tune”, please. There are so many ahows on Apple TV+ and I haven’t seen any that are too dark…yet.
I’ve noticed for a while now this trend, but also the disappearance of the backlight. More and more projects I see, the less I notice that halo that was supposed to separate the subject from the background and generate some depth.
Dark and no backlight… this new style has been going on for a couple of years now. Not my favorite, to be honest.
Yes! I agree completely. They left the eye light in the truck. If the eyes are the window to the soul, the shades have been drawn. It is often difficult to see which character is talking….Philo T. Farnsworth is wondering why he invented the Cathode Ray tube. The late, great Joseph Walker titled his memoir “The Light on Her Face” for a reason. Hit the switch and turn on a damn light!
I agree with you Richard. This overly dark, muddy trend is annoying. Maybe they are trying to save on set dressing. My humor on the darkness. Where are the highlights? Contrast from light to dark has been forsaken.
Hey Russ! I’m sure all the data is there on the sensor when they expose the shot, but then they go and crush the hell out of everything and muddy it up in the DI suite. May as well turn off the house lights and lock ourselves in the closet…
Yes, I call it the Netflix look – dirty yellow, and teal green. It’s like the 90s but soft and dark. There is a big difference between dark and good contrast.
Janus Kaminsky posted something about this, I will try to find it
Peter – Please do find the piece that Janusz wrote. I’d really like to see it…