Incident in Vichy - by Arthur Miller

[ccphoto]

A drama set in France during the early parts of the German occupation when they began rounding up Jews, artists, musicians, gypsies and other "undesirables."

The director got into a bind when her scheduled photographer failed to show for the last dress rehearsal and asked if I would fill in. She had some old stills taken from faded 8mm film clips of the era taken by her grandmother who survived the holocaust and asked if I could reproduce these in that style. The ones she had were so near gone but I gave it a try anyway. I am hoping I gave it its due, perhaps even a touch of noir.

For anyone who shoots theater or other stage productions, you know the lighting is at best poor. Most of these were shot between ISO 6400 and 10,000 with either a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 or a Tokina 17-35 f/4. No flash was used. Not my cuppa tea.

There are 34 shots but I'll only bore you with a few

Uncertainty


The Businessman and the Gypsy


Three New Men Join the Group


The Group Hopes for Answers


The Businessman is Released with a Coveted "Pass."


The Chef Tells the Waiter About the Crematoriums


The Waiter Attempts to Escape his Fate


The Austrian Prince Gives His Pass to the Commoner

[Mike Buckley]

This is such an interesting series of images, Chris, and made even more so by your accompanying narrative. You did a wonderful job and I suspect you will be asked to do the future shoots.

If I were asked to photograph anything of this kind, I would attend other rehearsals first so I would know what to expect. Am I correct that you did not have the luxury of doing that?

[ccphoto]

Thanks, Mike. I was called in to shoot this about an hour before this dress rehearsal. I barely had time to collect my gear and get there before it started. A friend who saw these images tonight at the play remarked how much they looked like old hand tinted photographs.

[Donald]

I think that's an excellent outcome from your 'commission'. A very good set of images. And very well done on deciding going to high ISOs. A lot of people would have been nervous about doing so, but it just confirms - Get the exposure right and noise isn't a problem.

Superb work, Chris.

[rpcrowe]

I think that you did a fine job.

The Vichy era in France is not the proudest moment in French history.

I knew a U.S. Naval aviator, Eugene Valencia who flew in support of the North African landings. He is one of the very few Aces who shot down German, Italian and French aircraft and, later in the war Japanese planes.

[John 2]

............................................ A friend who saw these images tonight at the play remarked how much they looked like old hand tinted photographs.

That's a very impressive set of photographs Chris. I enjoyed them and the narrative. How did you achieve the hand tinted look? A sepia overlay or just tweaking the colour balance? I'm not sure how it is produced.

[Dave Humphries]

Only 'well done' seems appropriate Chris.

[ccphoto]

That's a very impressive set of photographs Chris. I enjoyed them and the narrative. How did you achieve the hand tinted look? A sepia overlay or just tweaking the colour balance? I'm not sure how it is produced.

I did my normal RAW processing but because I was shooting such a high ISO, I chose to add a bit of luminescence noise reduction then in my NIK package, I used the Vintage camera plug in with a lot of negative saturation and structure. The rest was just some selective coloring back and contrast control.

[Shadowman]

Nicely composed series.

[KimC]

Great set Chris and I really like the PP!

[bnnrcn]

Very nice set Chris