How do I photograph the Grunge aesthetic?+
Authentic American discomfort plaid, distortion, and the romance of feeling everything too much. Process in Lightroom by reducing clarity to -20 and adding a slight green-brown color grade to the shadows the reduced clarity creates the analog softness of C-41 film processed in a community lab, which is the aesthetic's original medium
What shots should I get for a Grunge photo shoot?+
Capture: Portrait in a wood-paneled basement or garage, available light only, the subject in plaid and denim; Close portrait with film grain pushed to 3200 ISO, the face partially in shadow, direct but unposed; Environmental shot of a rehearsal space with instruments on stands, cables on the floor, posters on the walls; Full-length shot of subject against a concrete wall in flannel, jeans, and beat-up boots; Interior shot of a thrift store or garage sale, the subject among the objects, part of the landscape.
What lighting works for Grunge photography?+
Available window light in a domestic interior, supplemented by nothing; let the shadows fall where they fall and do not lift them
Where should I shoot Grunge photography?+
Good locations include: Suburban garage or basement, Pacific Northwest forest exterior in overcast light, Thrift shop or pawn store, Practice room with low ceiling and band posters.
What wardrobe works for Grunge photography?+
Plaid flannel, torn jeans, thermal underlayers, Converse or Doc Martens, unwashed-looking hair; the goal is lived-in, not costume
