Blue Filtration for Skin

[NortheastPhotographic]

I am trying to achieve a rough skin look from a blue filter, but I'm having trouble finding one. I am looking at 43mm or Bay III. (43mm might be better because I could use it on my Rollei and my ZM lenses). Would an 80B be a dense enough blue or is there a filter actually intended for B&W photography that would suit me better?

**wasn't sure where this thread belongs***

 

[bvy]

I'm anxious to see the responses. I've been using a cheap Telesar blue filter from a set of color separation filters; it's definitely doing a good job of adding texture to skin and even darkening it slightly. My goal was to get blue eyes to really glow and somewhat reproduce the look of wet plate and other ortho/blue-sensitive emulsions.

 

[Neal]

Dear Sperdynamite,

You might want to consider using a step up ring to a more common filter size.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

Dear Sperdynamite,

You might want to consider using a step up ring to a more common filter size.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

I could be talked into a 67mm for my 105/2.4 Super Takumar but again, which blue filter? Is there a density # I should look for...

 

[Prof_Pixel]

How about a Blue 47 filter?

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Since a green filter will also darken red you might try a dark green filter. A green filter is most often used for male portraiture.

You could also look for a blue Color Correcting CC filter or a tricolor separation filter rather than a Wratten designation.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Rough? Blue will do just the opposite in sunlight, since it lightens the micro-shadows in wrinkles etc. Age spots and reddish blemished will be more
apparent. Depends on just how deep a blue filter you use. Medium to dark green filters on typical pan films will simulate the look of ortho film, which
was once popular in portrait studios for giving men a more rugged look. True tricolor filters require significant exposure compensation, a filter factor
of 4X for 47B blue, and 3X for 58 green. That also equates to a lot of extra density to focus through with an SLR system, and therefore an incentive
to find a true ortho film if it exists in your intended format. But not all ortho film are engineered for portrait usage, just be aware of that. There's
another reason, for making ultra-fine slow speed micro-films, where an extra pan sensitization layer would reduce a bit of the sharpness. These kinds
of ortho might require special developers or otherwise be harder to tame.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Ooop, forgot to add that I do sometimes use a 47B filter in 8x10 format when I want a spectral response similar to 19th C blue sensitive plates. But
you need fast film like ASA 400 to do this with anything potentially moving.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Gosh, one more thing... 47 is just a little less pure blue than 47B, but a tad less dense, so easier to use, and for all practical purposes equivalent.

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

Thanks for the tips everyone!

Looks like Tiffen is still making a screw filter in 67mm, so I can use it with my Pentax 105/2.4. I think I'll go that route and see what happens with some Delta 100.