Identity: Post 4
The Euphoria television series is known for its raw depiction of the teenage life, but even more respected for its bold cinematography. It defies the cliches of television photography by presenting more dark environments than light ones, utilizing unusual colors such as blues and purples, and capturing characters at unique angles. With lighting, color, and composition, Euphoria shows characters at their best and their worst, and follows them through a rollercoaster of grief, doubt, fear, loss, anger, and—of course—euphoria.
Image 1: This is one of the few stills from the show that uses overwhelmingly warm light. It is representative of a sense of peace and epiphany within the character. This is the moment when the character finally feels cleansed after the storm, and when she comes to accept that this is who she is, this is where she is standing, and this is the future that lays ahead. She is positioned in the middle of the photo, with light in front of her and shadow at her back. Everything about the image is symbolizing her exit from a dark, twisted path and embrace of a difficult yet promising future.
Image 2: The lighting in this image, in contrast with the first one, is suffocatingly cold and blue. It is an extremely saturated tone that makes the viewer uncomfortable; in an environment like this, the character cannot be expected to see many things with clarity, which thus creates a fearful and unsure atmosphere. Furthermore, whereas almost all other faces are turned away from the camera, leaving only the backs of heads and unclear features, the main subject’s side profile is clearly visible. She is positioned in the very center of the frame as well, and she lifts her head slightly, apparently familiarizing herself with this new setting. All of this combines to make it seem as if she is alone and lonely; in this cold, unforgiving light, she tries to find a place for her. The image implicates feelings of fear and doubt very effectively.
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Photos from a planning session:
