For Your Viewing Pleasure: Chiaroscuro

Welcome back to another installment of For Your Viewing Pleasure, where we take time out of the week to curate a set of photos from the K-pop landscape.

Lighting is a key element of any photo. The interplay between light and shadow can be used to draw the viewer’s gaze to a focal point, to highlight distinct elements or create drama in a picture. In this selection of shots, we explore the use of chiaroscuro – the contrast between light and dark. Whether the camera captures Sooyoung lounging in the shaft of sunshine filtering through a window, or Junsu half-silhouetted by a single spotlight, chiaroscuro gives photoshoots an added element of intrigue. A greyscale shot emphasises the refracted light that splits an image of EXO’s D.O. in two, while the sparkles on actress Han Ye-Seul’s dress glitter more brightly against the picture’s dark backdrop. Flick through these photos to find your favourite chiaroscuro effect.

(Images via GQ, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Singles, Dazed, Grazia, Marie Claire, High Cut, Arena)