Dallas Photographer Brings Back The Old Style, The Hollywood Look

Photographer Mark Oristano brings the glamour of 1930's Hollywood to his clients with a unique combination of modern theory and old equipment and techniques.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) June 10, 2009 -- Ignoring the "factory" look and feel of the large photo studios and mall photographers, and taking modern photographic technology back to the 1930's, Dallas photographer Mark Oristano has created an unusual new look with his Classic Hollywood Black-and-White portraits.

Working out of his small studio near downtown, Oristano uses old-time lights, a classic, antique camera, and old-time techniques to create stunning portraits reminiscent of photos from the likes of the master George Hurrell, and the other great Hollywood studio photographers of the 1930's.

"I've always been fascinated by Hurrell's style," Oristano says, "and after I studied with one of the world's great modern portrait photographers, Michael Grecco, I was able to combine new and old lights and styles to come up with this look."

His subjects first get the full hair and makeup treatment from his in-house stylist and then, in front of an antique white flat backdrop, occasionally ablaze with shadows in all sorts of interesting patterns, Oristano poses his subjects.

The first shots are done with a modern, digital SLR camera, to check for proper exposure, light, feel, etc. But then, the classic 4x5 Speed Graphic, a 1942 model from the U.S. Army World War II Signal Corps, comes out.

"You don't get shots like this at the mall. You don't get anything like this kind of quality from mass market photographers. The camera we use is the camera you always see newspaper photographers snapping in those old black-and-white movies. It's almost 70 years old, but it still takes superb pictures," according to Oristano.

Once the photos are processed, they are scanned into computer files for final retouching in Photoshop and then, onto printing. Basic prints are 17x22, but much larger files are available.

Oristano has been using the Classic Hollywood technique in many areas, including high school senior pictures, engagement photos, theatrical p.r. pictures, and just for general portrait work.

"People are always stunned to see themselves in the final product," says Oristano, "and they love getting a taste of 1930's movie glamour applied to their own look."

To see more examples of his photos, visit www.hollywood1935.com.

Mark Oristano Photography -- 214-546-3794

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