Lost in Translation

Black & White Sunday: Low-Key

The Lady of the Camellias (La Dame aux camélias) was first written as a novel by Alexandre Dumas (son) and later rewritten as a play. It also served as inspiration for Verdi’s La Traviata where the main character is no longer called Marguerite Gautier, but Violetta Valéry.

Marguerite Gautier, the heroine of the Dumas’s novel was a courtesan (modeled after his real life lover) with a selfless heart that gave up her own happiness for the sake of others. Tragic and brave in her life choices she never regretted them.

dama s kamelijama_low key_bw-nova-1_potpis

Marguerite: “No, no. I’m not weak. I’m strong. It’s my heart. It’s not used to being happy.”

 

Here I used low-key photography to represent one of my favourite female literary characters. This week you are asked to make a low-key photograph. You can shoot it as such or maybe obtain the chiaroscuro effect in post processing.  As a linguist I will also appreciate alternative interpretations of low-key that do not necessarily imply contrast spot lighting, so you can approach the subject as “discrete”, “secretive”, “understated”. You know that the choice is all yours. Leave the links to your posts in the comment section and link to this challenge in your post.

P.S. The attached music is not from La Traviata, but from the movie La storia vera della signora delle camelie (another movie made after the Dumas’s literary masterpiece) composed by Ennio Morricone. 

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Check out the entries for this challenge by clicking on the links bellow:

https://travelwithintent.com/2016/03/20/low-key-at-noho

https://photographyplusblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/summers-end

https://artishorseshit.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/bw-sunday-kongens-garde

http://lessywannagohome.blogspot.hr/2016/03/b-sunday_20.html

https://suejudd.com/2016/03/20/black-and-white-sunday-low-key

https://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/black-and-white-sunday-low-key

https://thepisceanme.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/low-key-black-white-photography

http://daffodilhillphotography.com/2016/03/21/black-white-sunday-loki

https://smallbluegreenflowers.wordpress.com/2016/03/22/low-key/

https://sonyavdg.wordpress.com/2016/03/25/black-white-sunday-low-key

Paula
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67 responses to “Black & White Sunday: Low-Key”

  1. Debbie Smyth Avatar
    Debbie Smyth

    What a wonderful theme, Paula. And your lovely shot is a great example
    Not a thing I’ve ever really thought about in photography, though I have edited in this manner a couple of times without really thinking about it.
    Not only have you given me a technique to learn about, but I now have a book to add to my reading list. And what will I post? I have an idea…

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      I like your idea and I am very glad to have introduced this theme which resulted in stunning entries like yours.

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  2. Linda Arthur Tejera Avatar
    Linda Arthur Tejera

    She’s beautiful, Paula!

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      She would be happy to hear you, Linda 🙂 Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. vastlycurious.com Avatar
    vastlycurious.com

    ♥ Great post about some low key happiness …I will think about it. Its still Saturday here. Good morning !

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Good Sunday morning Kathryn. Thank you for your nice comment. I would be happy to have an entry from you.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. vastlycurious.com Avatar
        vastlycurious.com

        Ok I am working today. Must..think..think..think 🙂

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  4. Low Key at Noho | Travel with Intent Avatar
    Low Key at Noho | Travel with Intent

    […] Linked to B&W Sunday […]

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  5. Eric Tonningsen Avatar
    Eric Tonningsen

    Ennio Morricone… an extraordinary composer/arranger. Your photo rivals his music!

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      You are very kind, Eric. Thank you. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. Summer’s end – photography plus

    […] Black & White Sunday: Low-Key […]

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  7. Suzanne Avatar
    Suzanne

    Such alovely doll so elegantly dressed. Here is my response to the challenge . Thank you for the opportunity to have some fun processing an image.
    https://photographyplusblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/summers-end/

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      You did a wonderful job, Suzanne. Thank you and I’m very glad you liked my image and theme.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Suzanne Avatar
        Suzanne

        Thanks Paula. I love your photos of your doll. My childhood doll is in pieces in a cupboard (she’s one of those old kind that are held together with big rubber bands.) Everytime I see your doll photos I think I must get her fixed. It would cost a lot though as she needs new hair too. Poor darling has been over loved by too many boisterous children. 🙂

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        1. Paula Avatar
          Paula

          No doll can survive intact that long. The doll you see in this post is one of 10 I have captured and already published on this blog. They were all purchased a couple of years ago. Porcelain dolls are not for kids.

          Liked by 1 person

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          1. Suzanne Avatar
            Suzanne

            Mine’s a very old doll purchased from Italy in the 1950s. I love the ones you feature. Maybe I will have to take up doll collecting. 🙂

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  8. Colline Avatar
    Colline

    I always enjoy looking at your shots of this doll Paula. Have a wonderful Sunday.

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      This is Marguerite’s premiere on my blog :). Thank you, Colline. Hope your weekend was restful.

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      1. Colline Avatar
        Colline

        It is the other that I have seen then 🙂
        The weekend was good. Now it is back to work routine after a break from sschool for a week.

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        1. Paula Avatar
          Paula

          It could have been any of the other nine 😀 and there still remain another 5 for me to capture 😉 Good thing about working at school is holidays. I just get next Monday off.

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  9. morselsandscraps Avatar
    morselsandscraps

    The things you can do with a doll!! Everything in this post works together beautifully – photo, music, words and quote. I’m a fan of low key in whatever mode.

    Thank you for reminding me of “La traviata” – it was one of the few soundtracks of my childhood, an LP record. That long ago!

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      I did not know you were fan of low key, Meg. Thank you for the nice comment. It is much appreciated.

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  10. sonyavdg Avatar
    sonyavdg

    That’s beautiful . It’s going to take a bit of thinking about what I can do this week

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Nice to hear from you, Sonya. I know that you’ll come up with something beautiful.

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      1. sonyavdg Avatar
        sonyavdg

        🙂 I think I’ve got an idea, but I’ll need to wait till Friday before I’ll be home when the light is right

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        1. Paula Avatar
          Paula

          🙂 I am very curious to see it, Sonya.

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  11. Lena Avatar
    Lena

    Beautiful, I really like low-key photo. It often brings an atmospheric and mystic mood to the image.

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Cheers, Lena. I’m happy you like the theme.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. Ron Hillmar Avatar
    Ron Hillmar

    This is so beautiful, Paula, love the light and use of negative space a lot here!
    Enjoy your sunday,
    Ron

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Much obliged for your kind words, Ron 🙂

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  13. BW Sunday: Kongens Garde – artishorseshit

    […] Check out Paula’s B&W photo this Sunday: https://bopaula.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/black-white-sunday-low-key/ […]

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  14. Sue Avatar
    Sue

    Love your chiaroscuro doll, Paula….and I agree with Meg re everything working nicely in this post. Once I have eased myself into the day, I shall hunt around for an appropriate image or two.

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. restlessjo Avatar
    restlessjo

    You’ve done it again! Staggeringly beautiful in an understated way. Thank you for enhancing Sunday, Paula. 🙂

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      You’re a doll yourself for being such an early visitor. Hope your Sunday is good, Jo.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. klara Avatar
    klara

    cute with all the tiny details achieved with good light.
    http://lessywannagohome.blogspot.be/2016/03/b-sunday_20.html

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  17. Black and White Sunday – Low Key | WordsVisual

    […] week, Paula has chosen a topic right up my street! But I am yet to create images that I am really happy with.. […]

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  18. 76sanfermo Avatar
    76sanfermo

    Great post, Paula and the photo is a “capolavoro”!

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      🙂 Grazie, Anna.

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  19. lumar1298 Avatar
    lumar1298

    Lovely, Paula…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Thanks Lor. Enjoy your Sunday!

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  20. Know-All Avatar
    Know-All

    That sounds like an awesome book…and a photograph to match the mood!

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  21. Cardinal Guzman Avatar
    Cardinal Guzman

    Hope you’re having a great Sunday Paula! I’ve managed to fit in the gym, a jam session with an ukulele player, making dinner, plus starting the process of setting up a web shop. A hectic day of rest!

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    1. Cardinal Guzman Avatar
      Cardinal Guzman

      Do you have any plans for Easter? Do you have many days off work?

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      1. Paula Avatar
        Paula

        No, Max. Just Monday. It’s hay fever season. I just want to sleep.

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        1. Cardinal Guzman Avatar
          Cardinal Guzman

          We have Thursday, Friday and Monday off. I’m looking forward to spend some quality time with the kid.

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  22. Black and White Sunday, Low Key | Lucid Gypsy Avatar
    Black and White Sunday, Low Key | Lucid Gypsy

    […] There will be more to see over at Paula’s place, Lost in Translation. […]

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  23. Lucid Gypsy Avatar
    Lucid Gypsy

    Hi Paula, what a cool challenge. I’ve had a go with a Gothic kind of edit.https://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/black-and-white-sunday-low-key/

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      This is a very interesting a visually pleasing result. Thanks a lot, Gilly. I am glad you could join in.

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  24. Low Key – Black & White Photography – The Piscean me

    […] week at the Black & White Sunday Photography the theme was ‘Low […]

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  25. Srivi Avatar
    Srivi

    Such an awesome theme Paula, Enjoyed taking a part in this 🙂 Though I did not get a perfect pic but still enjoyed searching for pics from my archive for this theme!

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  26. equinoxio21 Avatar
    equinoxio21

    Une jolie photo d’une de tes jolies poupées. 🙂
    (Il faudra quand même que je lise La dame aux camélias un jour…)
    😉

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  27. Black & White Sunday: Loki | Daffodil Hill Photography Avatar
    Black & White Sunday: Loki | Daffodil Hill Photography

    […] so as a semi-grownup I have to get some things done around our place. Here is my take on this weeks Black & White Sunday at Paula’s place, Lost In Translation. If you have never visited her place I would highly […]

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  28. The Jagged Man Avatar
    The Jagged Man

    I love the use of light in your capture and I hope you like my take on this challenge. This week I tried but the fun in dysfunctional…….. http://daffodilhillphotography.com/2016/03/21/black-white-sunday-loki/

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      I do, John. I am very glad you like the photo and that it inspired you to play some more 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  29. Lignum Draco Avatar
    Lignum Draco

    Low key: “discrete”, “secretive”, “understated”. Well, I never considered myself that way. 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Love the photo. I wish I could never regret my life choices.

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      😀 But you have to be secretive when you are out with you camera. That makes two of us (or more I am sure). Persons that live without regrets are rare.

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  30. Low Key – the earth laughs in flowers Avatar
    Low Key – the earth laughs in flowers

    […] black and white Sunday this week is all about Low Key Photography where almost everything except for the subject is black. It makes the viewer focus on the […]

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  31. Heyjude Avatar
    Heyjude

    Interesting subject Paula. I must confess I don’t much like porcelain dolls, they scare me! I’m afraid I have used another flower for your challenge this week. I do like low-key photography and must try to get shots of other subjects to use, I tried with a sheep but the background wasn’t dark enough and as the sheep has a black face it didn’t really work. Oh, well. Hope you like this one:

    Low Key

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Most porcelain dolls are creepy, but this is not the case with my literary characters collection.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  32. Black & White Sunday: Low Key | Middleton Road

    […] shot I had planned out for Paula’s low key theme didn’t quite work out.  So I’ve had to rely on a bit of post processing (Nik […]

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      When I wrote my comment it disappeared and the page could not be found. I don’t know what is happening. I love the delicate and atmospheric shot of your blooms, Sonya.

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  33. Uday Narayanan Avatar
    Uday Narayanan

    Paula, this image is a beautiful play of light and shadows. I love how you’ve brought out the contours of her face through controlled use of light. Very nicely done.

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    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      🙂 Thank you so much. Please take care.

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  34. stephanecassinphotos Avatar
    stephanecassinphotos

    Les ombres et la lumière sont bien gérés, excellent travail ツ

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Paula Avatar
      Paula

      Je te remercie d’avoir passe tant de temps et d’avoir investi tant d’interet dans mon blog. ツ

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. stephanecassinphotos Avatar
        stephanecassinphotos

        Mais je t’en prie ツ

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