What is chiaroscuro drawing?

chiaroscuro is the effect of light modelling in painting, drawing, or print making where three-dimensional volume is suggested by the value gradation of color and the analytical division of light and shadow shapes (Known as shading).

Chiaroscuro has been used since the Renaissance and Baroque period where the artists wanted to engage their viewers. To do this one side of the subject tends to be darker than the other, usually bringing out an aspect of their features, and really drawing your eyes to it.

How is it used in modern photography?

Chiaroscuro is used within modern photography today to create dramatic portraits by making certain aspects of an image once again stand out as seen below:

Using this technique it allow as seen, it can also be used today to make aspects of objects as well as people stand out. When compared to the art, the chiaroscuro inside photography tends to be more dark and dramatic than the art, which tends to just make one side of the face slightly darker.