Celebrity Portraits with a Dark Twist (20 total)

Though we've seen our share of celebrity photographers, we've never seen anyone who could bring out the delectably dark side of them like Patrick Hoelck. By carefully manipulating shadows and light, Hoelck creates a heightened sense of drama, turning our favorite celebrities into strangely intriguing characters.

"When I photographed Ian McKellen," Hoelck says, " I really wanted to hit those cheekbones and the gauntness and the strangeness of his face and in the eyes. You're looking at probably 13 or 14 strobe heads for that photograph: there were a couple above him, one for an eye light, two slamming the sides of his head, two backed off for fill, edges...sometimes three, sometimes 17. It depends on the day. It depends on the time allowance.”

“It's funny,” he says. “People say, ‘You're dark,' and I'm like, ‘No! I used to be really dark!' My retouchers guide me here. I think I'm popping the models out and bringing them out of the environment. I see the world in a different way and I alter reality to fit the way I see. I always like the complications of altering it as opposed to going natural. I've always seen the world that way, and that's how I shoot it. I see things popping out—like somebody's eyes or soul. And I try to light accordingly.”

Patrick Hoelck

Other Incredible Celebrity Photographers:
Stunning Celebrity Portraits - Lorenzo Agius (12 pics)
Sexiest Celebrity Portraiture - James White (20 pics)
Dan Winters Takes Timeless Celebrity Portraits (16 Favorites)
21 Sexy Celebrity Portraits - Tony Duran

Tags: Celebrity, Dark, Portraits, Twist, a, photo, photography, photos, with

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of My Modern Metropolis to add comments!

Join My Modern Metropolis

Comment by Laura P on December 5, 2010 at 8:06am: This is one of my favourite posts for the pure fun of the photos.

Comment by Alyssa Anda on November 18, 2010 at 5:13pm: The very first one is definitely my favorite. It has that touch of surprise because it's Seth Rogen, but at the same time it works.

Comment by gilberto Lopéz on September 15, 2010 at 8:53am: is very interesting pictures nice look

Comment by D. Voightlander on September 14, 2010 at 10:39pm: I don't even know who half these people are. Are you sure they're celebrities? I don't think we're defining that word properly. Or the phrase "dark twist." Not especially dark. I really don't feel like I care any more about these so-called celebrities any more than before I saw these pictures. Ian McKellen, yeah, that's fine, and I know who he is, but the rest of them? Not so much. Dude from Scrubs, chick that dated Marilyn Manson, whatever.

Comment by IanJ on September 14, 2010 at 1:00pm: Ha! The moment I saw Ian McKellen I knew Patrick Hoelck had to be the photographer of this set. His work has been described as the modern incarnation of the film noir look. One of my favorites. Good eye Alice!