which filter for b/w portrait/ skintones?

[Roger Vadim]

Hello everybody,

for a project I want to achieve a certain 'oldfashioned' look in portraits and nudes, the likes of Edward Weston or even the glasplates of Beloq's 'Storyville Portraits'

I am working on 4x5 with an old Speed Graphic, and hotlights in the studio.

How would you archieve that orthochromatic look? Green filter? I amm very happy with Fomapan 100 at the moment, a rather old-style film, souped in Rodinal, but open for suggestions!

Thanks for comments, I'll post some tests later,
cheers, Michael

 

[Nokton48]

A dark blue filter will achieve the same effect as using orthochromatic film.

 

[Sparrow]

A dark blue filter will achieve the same effect as using orthochromatic film.

yep, however the temperature of the lights will be on the red side already, a lot of British studios of the day used a north-light

 

[snip]

I would get some gels and stick on the lights as well as using a filter on the lens. I don't have my lee swatch book with me right here but I reckon a light blue would be in order to achieve the effect you are describing.

//J

 

[newspaperguy]

"Back in the day" a green filter was de rigueur for bare skin outside in daylight.

(he said fondly)

 

[spyder2000]

Why not use orthochromatic film? BTW, this is a good look for men but too ruddy for most women. Better test the females based on makeup application.

 

[charjohncarter]

Here is a man that was Hollywood's best portrait photographer is the 20s-40s. You could read up on him, I have seen analysis of his technique:

http://www.hurrellphotography.com/

 

[Nokton48]

If you corrected the hotlights to daylight (Rosco Gel) then you'd be OK with a dark blue over the lens. That should give a true Orthochromatic effect. With 4x5, I like Ilford Commercial Orthochromatic. I haven't used any in ten years, but I have a bunch in my freezer. The downside is that it's only 50EI. If you like what you're getting with the film you're using, I'd filter it to make it look Orthochromatic. Not much difference, in the overall look.

 

[oftheherd]

"Back in the day" a green filter was de rigueur for bare skin outside in daylight.

(he said fondly)

I get funny looks when I tell people that. Just like telling them red is good to lighten skin. Therefore, it can help hide blemishes.

Those were the recommendations in the magazines and books. I never did many portraits, but did experiment a little and it seemed to work.

I would experiment with ortho film. How better to get an ortho look?

Good luck with your project.