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As we step towards the month that brings out a mysterious, eerie and sometimes creepy aura we look at the work of one the most influential directors — who is still defining the world of cinema in gothic film culture — Tim Burton. With the release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in September to A Nightmare Before Christmas (), Burton’s films and TV series captivate audiences around the world, with Frankenweenie () being a personal favourite of mine.

Why, you might wonder, has Burton been so influential in gothic film culture? Well, he has been able to find his audience with his one-of-a-kind style and his storytelling through expressionism. Burton has always put the uniquely misfit characters at the forefront of his stories by allowing them to be themselves. And fundamentally, this is what audiences are able to resonate or identify with.

With that in mind, we want to share five top tips on how you can inject the ‘ style into your photographs and find inspiration in our curated collection: ‘Tim Burton‘

Finding the uncanny within the ordinary 

The uncanniness of ordinary life and how different it can be when viewed from a specific perspective is how Burton makes his films resonate with his intended audience. Why not look around your house or take a walk down the street and capture anything that feels out of place or could have another meaning when viewed at a certain angle. In the image below, the crop emphasises the uniqueness to the assortment of human glass eyes, that many people may not see on a daily basis.

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Imagination knows no bounds, and we can see how far Burton pushes the realms of reality with his surreal take on landscapes and objects. Thinking outside the box is essential to creating images that defy the viewer’s expectations. The flowers in the image below are larger than life and draw the viewer into the fantasy world that has been created. This particular image reminds me of the film Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children () due to its muted colour palette which is used throughout the film. If you’re wondering how this image was created, you can check out our interview with surreal portrait photographer Alexei Vladimir.

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Distortion or exaggeration can bring the ‘burtonesque’ style to your imagery, by creating an optical illusion which focuses on the strangeness within our reality. This can be accomplished by using objects that emphasise or magnify your subject’s features – just like in this image. There is something unsettling when familiar characteristics are not presented in way we are used to seeing them.

Light and Dark 

Even though Burton is known for his atmospheric sombre aesthetic he still manages to find the right balance between the light and the dark in his storytelling, which you can see in classic films such as Edward Scissorhands (). Lighting is important and can help you depict the emotions you want the audience to feel in that moment. For example, in this image the natural light coming through the window forms a soft or muted haze over the objects and dust highlighting enough features in the room to still create a sense of creepiness. The more you look at the image the more you can visualise the atmosphere within the room, giving the impression you do not want to be there when the natural light fades away.

Gothic Architecture 

Burton pays homage to gothic architecture within his films, especially in Dark Shadows () where the characters are based in Collinwood Mansion which is filled with 18^th century gothic architecture. Gothic architecture may be closer than you realise and can be found in local cathedrals, churches, and historic universities. When capturing the architecture think about your composition as a tight aspect ratio may emphasis the features of the building, like in the image below. Before you go and visit these sorts of sites, it’s always handy to do research beforehand to check if you need permission to photograph the buildings whilst there.

We hope you feel inspired to start using the ‘burtonesque’ style in your photography and upload content to ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏin time for Halloween. Make sure to include tags or keywords such as ‘Halloween’, ‘GothicCulture’, and ‘µþ³Ü°ù³Ù´Ç²Ô±ð²õ±ç³Ü±ð’ to your images, so our customers can easily find your content.

If you can’t get enough of Tim Burton’s style – just like I can’t – you can go and see his work from the 25^th October 2024 until April 2025 at the Design Museum in London in his latest exhibition .