Logo
  • Home
  • ·Media
  • ·Two men playing chess in moody monochrome by Dane Johnson
Two men playing chess at a wooden table in a moody monochrome scene with smoke rising between them and a hanging pendant light above

Dane Johnson, Set Designer, Los Angeles

About

This striking monochrome image captures two men seated across from each other at a wooden table, deeply engaged in a game of chess. The man on the left wears a light-coloured suit jacket and dark tie, leaning forward to move a piece, while the man on the right wears glasses and a dark suit, resting his head on his hand with a rising plume of smoke billowing between them. A single pendant light hangs directly above the centre of the table, casting strong highlights and deep shadows across the scene. Tumblers of liquor sit on the table alongside a full chess set. The dramatic high-contrast lighting creates a theatrical, cinematic atmosphere.

Keywords

two men playing chesstwo menmen playing chesschess gamechess tableblack and white portrait

Styles

HorizontalCinematicMonochromeGritty

Techniques

Low-key / chiaroscuro

Background

Black Seamless

Context

Portrait / Headshot
Similar media
Man in a black suit with a white shirt and dark tie seated inside a car, captured in low light by Joyce Kim.
Man in a dark suit stepping on a toppled grand piano in a studio with brick walls and arched windows, photographed by Peter Yang
Two men in silhouette walking past a large urban waterfront mural in a high-contrast monochrome street photograph by Andy Hatton.
Man in white shirt sitting on stage raising hand with jacket on floor by Jonny Marlow
Monochrome portrait of an artist in profile painting a detailed self-portrait on canvas in a dark studio.
Close-up of hands playing an electronic keyboard with sheet music resting on the instrument in a monochrome shot.
Monochrome night street scene with silhouettes of a skateboarder and cyclist under streetlights, photographed by Joyce Kim.
Monochrome portrait of a young man seated at a table with nesting dolls, photographed by Sharif Hamza.
Monochrome portrait of a person wearing a bowler hat and holding a vintage multi-lens movie camera in front of their face.
Monochrome portrait of a black man in a black blazer and white shirt with a stylist holding a comb
Monochrome image of a person reaching out toward a bright light source in a dark outdoor setting, photographed by Joyce Kim.
Black and white editorial portrait of three models posed outdoors near tall modern urban architecture.
Silhouette of a man and woman holding wine glasses by a large window overlooking Sydney Harbour, photographed by Rob Palmer.
A lit cigarette rests inside a small ashtray on a dark table surface in a moody monochrome still life composition.
Silhouetted camera operator kneeling next to a camera setup with bright backlit stage lighting and smoke
Man in grey suit standing beside another man seated in an armchair holding a glass in a dimly lit interior
Monochrome portrait of three men with one sitting on top of a car and two seated inside by photographer Joyce Kim
Man in a dark suit walking past a large multi-bulb studio light in an industrial brick and concrete studio setting.
Black and white portrait of a young man seated on a bench resting arms on knees in an indoor sports venue
Two people on bicycles parked on a dark suburban street at night captured in monochrome photography