Caravaggio's Conversion of St. Paul
image taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michelangelo_Caravaggio_036.jpg
Of the many things I remember about the Baroque period it was how influential it was for early photographers and film-makers. Among its many masters Caravaggio was a paradigm on how to use dramatic lighting to enhance a scene. The intense contrast between light and shadow create a stark otherworldly atmosphere which perfectly coincides with the tale of St. Paul's divine intervention. For me what really sells this scene is the sheer lack of color in the light Caravaggio uses, its just a pale, bleak, stark white light blaring down on St. Paul from above. The unnatural light and frozen forms make the painting appear to be like a really surreal moment captured in time.
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