Filters to use for Portraits
greg...@my-deja.com
I bought some sort of kodak filter atttachement with a lens hood.
It came with Green and Yellow.
What would I want to use for people portraits in B&W?
Are there any adapters to use my current 49mm and 55mm filters from my
minolta system?
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ka...@pop.bois.uswest.net
greg...@my-deja.com wrote:
Hi Greg. I use a Crown Graphic, which you probably know is like a Speed
Graphic without the focal plane shutter. Of the two filters that you
mention, the green one would be more traditional for portraiture as it
will tend to diminish the appearance of complexion blemishes. As for the
question about adapters, the short answwer is yes, there is an adapter for
every possible application somewhere. The application you mention requires
only a simple step ring, available at most camera stores. Have fun with
your new camera, and enjoy those big negatives!
Sincerely,
J. De Fehr
Jess4203
According to my reference sources, the yellow-green or green filter is used for
outdoor portraits to give a more natural appearance, and to darken lips and
cheeks (the redness reproduces darker with the filters). As the other poster
indicated, blemishes would also tend to be reduced.
HTH,
Roy
annqlee
I don't get it, aren't blemishes reddish. From my experience, green and blue
punch up
any pimple into mars. Light red is the one that conceals.
Ann
Jess4203 <jess...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010112205014...@ng-fn1.aol.com...
Richard Knoppow
Correct, blemishes tend to be exagerated when filters which cut red
are used. The same for orthochromatic film (if you manage to find
any). Yellow filters tend to smooth skin out and may result in a
"chalky" skin. Green is a better choice for "natural" looking skin
where its also desirable to darken skys or water (as nudes at the
beach).
A blue filter will result is the strange looking sort of reproduction
seen in very old photographs, black lips etc., as in wet plate photos.
Extended sensitivity pan film like Technical Pan, may also result in
somewhat washed out looking skin, although this may be flattering for
some.
AFAIK, there is no filter made which has the right cyan transmission
to duplicate ortho film. The rough-skinned look ortho gave was often
used for "character" portraits of men.
Generally portraits in daylight are best with no filter.
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, Ca.
dick...@ix.netcom.com
Richard Knoppow
I got an e-mail asking for clarification, which is needed.
ANY filter which cuts out red will tend to exagerate skin blemishes
and darken skin rendition. The recommendation for a green rather than
a yellow filter for outdoor sceens is based on the idea that it will
darken skys a little but not change skin rendition too much. The
yellow filter will be more flattering in that it will tend to suppress
redish blemishes. Yellow is often used for nudes because it tends to
smooth out skin texture a little. Some experimenting with exposure and
contrast is necessary to prevent "chalky" skin tones, i.e.,
suppressing texture too much.
When you are doing portraits or nudes with controlled lighting you
can do a lot with the lighting to suppress skin which is damaged with
pock-marks, scars, wrinkles, etc. Where the blemish is textural rather
than a color difference soft lighting (and soft focus lenses) will
help. Where blemishes are due to color variation a filter can help,
and sometimes help a lot.
With some practice you can become pretty good at judging the effect
of filters on B&W by looking through them. You must learn to ignore
the color and look for the rendition of brightness.
Films vary somewhat in color sensitivity. Nearly all general purpose
film is now panchromatic, meaning its sensitive to all visible colors.
However, the amount of sensitivity is not the same as the eye. Film
tends to be more sensitive to blue than the eye, rendering blue
objects (like the sky and water) too light. A weak yellow filter tends
to correct this. Some films, like Technical Pan, have much more
senstivity in the red than most others. These will tend to render red
objects (and blue objects) too light. They may be flattering for some
portraits but may also suppress skin texture to the point where skin
looks unnatural. Light green filters cut out some red light and some
blue light, so are useful in obtaining more accurate gray scale
rendition of color.
Some newer films, particularly T-Max are sensitized to have a more
balanced rendition without filters.
For instance, they tend to reproduce skys darker than traditional
films, like Tri-X. It is something like using a light yellow filter on
those films.
The best choice is not always for accuracy of reproduction but,
rather, for pleasing reproduction of colors in gray tones. This is why
"contrast" filters like the 25A red filter are employed (gives very
dark skys or water). The same for people, a filter, if any, should be
chosen for the subject. You might want a very different look for a
character portrait of, say, a weathered lumberjack and a glamour
portrait.
If you are trying to make really flattering portraits of someone
with really bad skin you will have to resort to makeup or retouching.
Daniel Bereskin
including lips and reddish blemishes.