From: Doggre@xxxxxxx
In a message dated 9/2/01 7:25:13 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
GMcGrath@xxxxxxx
writes:
> To get a "correct" exposure onto the film, if you were metering
Caucasian
> skin you need to remember that proper exposure is +1 from middle gray
Any info. on exposure compensation for black folk? I know they come in all
shades from "caucasian" to jet black, but was just wondering. I have a
wonderful black co-worker with a million dollar smile that I want to take
some portraits of. Portraiture is new to me. I have a roll of Kodak 160
NC,
the 85/2, and the OM-2S is a whole lot smarter than I am... but I would
sure
appreciate any "tips". Haven't decided indoors vs. outdoors yet. May do
both if she's willing & patient. I will bracket. That much I know.
Thanks.
Using portrait print film (e.g., Kodak Portra 160 NC), I have found that
with average dark skin, you want to set your exposure for +2 above middle
grey (+1 for average Caucasian skin tones). This is equivalent to setting
your ISO speed for Kodak Portra 160 NC to 40 ISO for dark skin (or 80 ISO
for Caucasians). I vary this basic exposure depending on the deviation from
average tones for both Caucasians and dark color skin folks. Since other
skin tone groups generally fall between these two extremes, I compensate
accordingly. The skin tones for "darks" deviate so widely that learning to
shoot them alone is great training for shooting other skin color groups. In
fact, "darks" overlap all skin color groups save for albinos.
Agfa's Portrait XPS 160 material (ISO 160) performs extremely well at 40
ISO. In fact, the print film engineered for portrait usage that I have used
(Kodak's Vericolor & Vericolor III and Agfa Portrait XPS 160) appear to
absolutely GLOW and SPARKLE with flash usage, particularly if the harsh
highlights typical of bare flash usage are alleviated by employing diffusion
boxes (e.g., Westcott's Micro & Mini Apollo diffusion boxes - great for
location shoots). ;-)
I have put off using Fuji's NPS 160 portrait material long enough: I know
many wedding/portrait photogs praise it highly. However, Agfa's Portrait
XPS 160 still had the highest high contrast figure among portrait print
films last time I checked - 150 lines/mm (60 lines/mm low contrast), and it
remains my standard unless Fuji's material can score a decisive knockout
punch. This dual high/low contrast index, combined with the subdued color
palette characteristic of portrait print films and the low 3.5 granularity
index, actually makes Portrait XPS 160 a great print film for copy work
(such as copying slides). The fairly recent proliferation of new portrait
transparency materials (e.g., Fujichrome Astia 100 Pro, Kodak Ektachrome 100
Pro, Ektachrome 100 Plus, Ektachrome Pro E100S & E100SW, Elite Chrome
family) can actually make this copy work versatility of Agfa Portrait XPS
160 more valuable. One can take the portrait slide originals and reproduce
great print copies to hand out to friends or clients. ;-)
John
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