[pure-silver] Re: Skin tones

On 28/08/06, Richard Knoppow <dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > wrote: 


  I've gotten the best results from mostly diffuse lighting
with enough specular light to bring out skin sheen.



How do I generate a specular light source?  Unfortunately all definitions of
'specular' I found http://tinyurl.com/e9fen are worded so as to refer to the
quality of the reflecting surface rather than the source.  Maybe you mean a
point source of light like a flash or spotlight, or direct sunlight.

The best portraits were by natural light, either from large windows 
or late afternoon light on partly cloudy days. The low angle
of the light helps and also the color of the light late in
the day.



This is good to know that a warmer light source is worth considering.  This
concurs with Eric's suggestion to use a light red filter over the light
source.  Eric wrote "a light red will help remove some skin blemishes and
lighten the skin a touch; that of course is skin color dependant. So if I am
using flash/strobe a light red rosco on the light helps."

The advantage of working with studio lights is control of 
lighting ratio and subject contrast. One can also do this
outdoors using reflectors. One key to getting good skin
rendition with any film is to get the skin somewhere in the
straight line portion of the curve and control the shadow
areas that need some detail. Probably a ratio of 8 to 1 is
the most one can have.



Richard, this is the type of information that I find to be very valuable.
By 8 to 1, do you mean a 3 stop difference (i.e. 2^3=8).  So as a starting
point are you suggesting to aim for 3 stops between shadow detail and
highlight detail?  Up until now I haven't really thought about how I would
have mapped the skin's tonal range from the subject to the print.

Specular highlights will never have 
detail because they are beyond the range that can be
printed. Small specular highlights, like catch lights in the
eyes, need not have detail but broad highlights, like the
forhead should probably not have more than about 4 to 1
brightness from the average skin area.
  I can go on with this but a few hours spent with small
lights will tell you more than any book.
  BTW a trick I learned from an old book is to make a test
light by fixing a nite-lite on the end of a rod perhaps 4 or
5 feet long. Get someone to sit for you and explore around
in dim light using the test light. This will show you what
light from various angles brings out.



When I do this experiment with the nite-lite, suppose I arrive at a pleasing
combination of lighting to illuminate the subject, how do I then use that
setup in combination with your suggestion above for a ratio of 8 to 1 ?  If
I combine the two ideas, I could end up with two conflicting requirements.

The book is back in print and I recommend it. _Painting 
With Light_ John Alton. Its available in paperback for less
than $20. Amazon has it but I don't remember the current
publisher.



I have just read the review on the book at Amazon.  My wife keeps asking me
what I would like for a birthday present, so before I settle on this book
are there any other books on the topic of lighting that people can
recommend? Maybe because I have never heard of John Alton before, I was
after second opinions of his book "Painting with light" or perhaps
suggestions for other good books on the topic.

regards
Peter

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