So, I was trying to get that specific ‘Demarchelier’ vibe in some shots the other day. You know the look, right? Clean, elegant, but somehow really natural and strong. Seemed straightforward enough when you just look at the pictures.
I set up my little home studio space. Wasn’t anything fancy, just a backdrop and a couple of lights I have. My goal was simple: try and capture that feeling. Easier said than done, let me tell you.
First, I messed with the lighting for what felt like hours. I was aiming for that soft, flattering light but still with definition. Tried a big softbox first. Moved it around. Higher, lower, more to the side. Then added a reflector. Then swapped for a harder light source thinking maybe that was the key. It just kept looking… well, like my photos. Not his. The shadows weren’t right, or the highlights felt dull.
Here’s roughly what I went through:
- Tried a classic butterfly lighting setup.
- Switched to Rembrandt lighting.
- Attempted a simple broad light approach.
- Fiddled endlessly with the power settings on the strobes.
- Moved the model (just a friend helping out) maybe an inch here, an inch there.
Then I thought, okay, maybe it’s more about the post-processing. Got the images onto the computer. Opened them up in my usual software. Started playing with the usual suspects: contrast, clarity, maybe a bit of dodging and burning. Tried converting to black and white, because he was a master at that. It definitely changed the look, but it didn’t magically become a Demarchelier picture. It just felt… forced. Like I was trying to imitate the surface, not the soul of it.
His photos, they seem to capture a real moment, even the posed ones feel alive. Mine felt stiff. The connection wasn’t there. It’s more than just technique, isn’t it? It’s about how you interact with the person, making them comfortable, finding that split second.
This whole thing reminded me of trying to learn a guitar riff from a legend just by watching a video. You can see the fingers, you can hear the notes. But making it sound like them? That takes something else. It’s the feel, the timing, the little imperfections that make it perfect. Years of practice distilled into something that looks effortless.
So, my little experiment? Didn’t quite nail the ‘Demarchelier on the line’ thing. More like ‘Me, fumbling on the line’. But it was a good exercise. Really makes you appreciate the skill involved. It’s not just about having the gear or knowing the rules. It’s about vision, and honestly, probably a whole lot of work behind the scenes that we never see. Gotta respect the masters.
