Film noir is a style of Hollywood crime drama that emphasizes cynical attitudes, moral ambiguity, and a dark, pessimistic worldview, originating primarily in the 1940s and 1950s. The term, meaning "black film" or "dark film" in French, was first used by French critic Nino Frank in 1946 to describe American crime films characterized by low-key black-and-white cinematography, stark lighting, and themes of fatalism and corruption. While often associated with a specific visual style—such as chiaroscuro lighting, shadows, and urban labyrinths—film noir also encompasses a range of narratives featuring archetypal characters like the private investigator, the femme fatale, or the doomed anti-hero, frequently set against a backdrop of moral decay. When asked about photography, this is my response.

@inpraise.of.shadows