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25
Jun
jack_98 asked:
In normal natural lighting, pictures come out with people’s faces washed out and way too pale. I’m trying to get more warmth in the skin colors.
I’m a newbie to digital SLR’s, so please be patient.
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In normal natural lighting, pictures come out with people’s faces washed out and way too pale. I’m trying to get more warmth in the skin colors.
I’m a newbie to digital SLR’s, so please be patient.
Create a video blog
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6 Responses to “With a digital SLR, how can I photograph faces without the color washing out?”
You can pre-set in on-board preferences to vary color saturation.
Professionally I keep mine Neutral(As you can always re-touch the image after the shoot).
Consider white or Silver reflector boards when shooting faces, avoid direct flash(Bounce or reflect it onto the subject)
A good portrait lens is essential also-Hope this helps
I believe that is a problm with your apperture letting in too much light, make the hole smaller, by making the number bigger, in sunny weather 16 usually works, remember sunny sixteen.
If you are dealing with color there are few step that can help.
(1) do NOT over expose the image.
(2) select higher saturation.
(3) some DSLR have way to select WARMER white balance
(4) manually select white balance (auto often are good but not great)
(5) add warming filter
Try using external lighting using strobes (you can get umbrella starter for less than $75 – using your own external flash). You will find that the skin tone is much truer and warmer. Some of the reason is that (a) you get more balanced light (b) camera can make better auto white balance adjustment.
On the surface it seems that with the advent of digital cameras photography has become easier. But in reality it has become harder. In the good old film days, you pretty much left most of the color stuff to the printers (the person). Now it is all up to the photographer.
Good Luck.
A properly expose negative or digital file is a good start to renedering good skin tones.
Film:
If you are using film, you can over expose your negative and still get good results. Overexposing has a tendency to build contrast into an image so you don’t want to go too far.
Digital:
If you are using digital imaging, you do not want to over expose your file. In fact, in some instances it is better to under expose an image. Once you have blown out the highlights you can’t bring them back.
Other variables such as proper lighting, image manipulation, your printer, all have an effect on your finished image.
If you are using a flash that is on the camera you will have a tendency to wash out skin tones. When the light source comes from the direction of the camera this is consindered a flat lighting situation. Because there is a lack of shadows your image will look more washed out. Try using natural window light where the light illuminates your subject from the side.
There are tools that you can use to manipulate a digital file. A good program for this is Adobe Photo Shop, it is the industry standard. Adjustments can be made in levels and curves to bring your image back into allignment.
It is important to have a computer monitor that is calabrated or neutral balanced. There are computer programs and special “spyders” that attach to your monitor and read the colors. Adjustments throught the program will neutralize the monitor.
Your printer model, the paper and personal likes/dislikes can effect the look of your image as well.
Study artwork, paintings, photographs, etc., and educate yourself in composition, lighting, printing techniques, art. Don’t forget to practice, practice, practice!!!
Good Luck!
Steve
there are a few reasons this could be happening:
1) Overexposure, make sure the face is properly exposed, any overexposure will have a desaturating effect. use the spot meter if you have to.
2)Cold light, if you are shooting in overcast or with the on-camera flash you may be having problems with the warmth of the light, in overcast, try either a gold reflector onto the face or fill flash (flash that isn’t the primary light source) because flash has a generaly warmer color balance then overcast.
3) On-camera flash as primary light, (indoors, at night, etc.) this will almost always wash out skin tones. Try to use bounce flash for better results.
Try turning off the flash. Use existing light coming from up over your right or left shoulder.
Just a starting point.
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