Do you ever do portraits in Velvia?

[flavio81]

Just shot on Velvia 50 220 last week.
I used it for this shoot because I want that punch in skin tones, and you really get it with Velvia 50 and direct sunlight.

Wow, great shot!

 

[Huss]

Thanks Flavio!

 

[trondsi]

Yes, I have experience with Velvia 50 and 100 in portrait and fashion photography. My most used films in this genre are Astia 100F, Sensia III, Provia 100F / AgfaPhoto CT Precisa 100 and Provia 400X.
But I am also using Velvia (especially Velvia 50) quite regularly in portrait and fashion, too. Results can be excellent.
Velvia and its rendering of skin tones: It is a much more versatile film than many photographers think. It can be indeed used for portrait and fashion photography. There is only one aspect to be considered: The person you photograph should not have a reddish skin tone, that does not work well with Velvia indeed. But with all other skin tones, no problems at all. Whether you have people with a pale skin tone, or a tanned skin tone, or black people, all that looks very good with Velvia. Here just some examples from me:

Here a lady with a bit pale skin tone, and a wonderful red dress. The original red of this dress was amazing, and I used Velvia 50 for this subject because the Velvia 50 red is unsurpassed, and it recorded the original red perfectly:
https://www.facebook.com/1589626601....1462382121./1670828193206770/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/1589626601....1462382117./1685967641692825/?type=3&theater

And another young lady with a bit pale skin tone:
https://www.facebook.com/1589626601....1462382121./1669591939997062/?type=3&theater

Best regards,
Henning

Nice photos! Thanks for posting! Would you say that Velvia 100 is better than 50 for reddish skin? Or would you just go with Provia? (my overall favorite although I am getting used to Velvia)

 

[Henning Serger]

Nice photos! Thanks for posting!

Thank you.

Would you say that Velvia 100 is better than 50 for reddish skin?

No, it's the other way round:
From my experience shooting both films under identical or similar conditions and lighting Velvia 100 is adding more red to skin tones than Velvia 50, so in direct comparison Velvia 50 is better for reddish skin.
But as said in my first post: I generally would not recommend Velvia (neither 50 nor 100) for portraits of people with a reddish skin. Because red is then too much emphasized.
But it works with people with a pale skin: They get a bit more 'color' and often look more tanned or sound.
And it also works well with people with a tanned skin tone and black people.
And if you have colorful fashion and / or a colorful surroundings - then Velvia can be the "cherry on the cake"

Or would you just go with Provia? (my overall favorite although I am getting used to Velvia)

Well, Provia 100F is an excellent all-round film with very exact, natural color rendition. Very good portrait film, too. Yes, if you have to take portraits of people with a reddish skin this is the film to go, much better than the Velvias. And you should also not forget that lighting is one of the main success factors in portrait photography. With people with a reddish skin avoid light / color temperature that emphasizes red.

By the way: On the FB page of the just recently started international photographers project "Let's shoot slide film again!" you will find further examples of Velvia 50 and 100 in portrait and fashion photography (and of course examples of other reversal films, too):
https://www.facebook.com/letsshootslidefilmagain/

Best regards,
Henning

 

[trondsi]

Thank you.



No, it's the other way round:
From my experience shooting both films under identical or similar conditions and lighting Velvia 100 is adding more red to skin tones than Velvia 50, so in direct comparison Velvia 50 is better for reddish skin.
But as said in my first post: I generally would not recommend Velvia (neither 50 nor 100) for portraits of people with a reddish skin. Because red is then too much emphasized.
But it works with people with a pale skin: They get a bit more 'color' and often look more tanned or sound.
And it also works well with people with a tanned skin tone and black people.
And if you have colorful fashion and / or a colorful surroundings - then Velvia can be the "cherry on the cake"



Well, Provia 100F is an excellent all-round film with very exact, natural color rendition. Very good portrait film, too. Yes, if you have to take portraits of people with a reddish skin this is the film to go, much better than the Velvias. And you should also not forget that lighting is one of the main success factors in portrait photography. With people with a reddish skin avoid light / color temperature that emphasizes red.

By the way: On the FB page of the just recently started international photographers project "Let's shoot slide film again!" you will find further examples of Velvia 50 and 100 in portrait and fashion photography (and of course examples of other reversal films, too):
https://www.facebook.com/letsshootslidefilmagain/

Best regards,
Henning

Yes this is why I love Provia.
Thanks for the tips!

 

[benjiboy]

Not if I can avoid it, it makes human skin tones look like raw meat, Fuji Provia is much better for portraits.

 

[Wayne]

This is certainly a nice picture and shows how dark skins can work well with Velvia, but without a face I can't really call it a portrait and facial tones is where Velvia and white skin can clash. Most people care much less if their arm is a bit ruddy

Just shot on Velvia 50 220 last week.
I used it for this shoot because I want that punch in skin tones, and you really get it with Velvia 50 and direct sunlight.

 

[benjiboy]

Wow, you have both?

You have to pray that one doesn't find out about the other because "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned".

 

[Henning Serger]

Not if I can avoid it, it makes human skin tones look like raw meat, .......

As a general statement this is simply wrong. It really depends on the kind of skin tone the person has.
Please see the explanations and examples above in this thread.
Here are some further examples:
Velvia 100:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=529164000588711&set=gm.989325857819438&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154199404472009&set=gm.1146640228714625&type=3&theater

http://www.johnbcrane.com/nikonf6/h131802d7#h131802d7

Expired Velvia 100F:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=970999402937661&set=gm.982058128546211&type=3&theater

Velvia 50:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153425230957540&set=gm.998629200222437&type=3&theater

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

What is trying to be proved here with Velvia? By design it is a landscape/scenic emulsion and will boost primaries, how do depends how well you know the procedure of moderating that boost and in what conditions. So what are you doing with skin tones? There are better and purposeful films for this use, Provia 100F, 400X, Portra 160, 400... others still.

 

[Henning Serger]

For me, I have already explained it here, see above.
My main used reversal films for portraits and fashion are Astia 100F, Sensia III, Provia 400X and Provia 100F. All excellent films for that genre.
But in some cases I do want the characteristics of Velvia (mostly Velvia 50, and mostly for fashion). They give me exactly the look I want. And I am very happy that I have these additional possibilities. I have more room for creativity. I don't want to have always the same look - that would be boring.
And I am not the only one:
E.g. legendary travel photographer M. Martin has shot all his excellent portraits with Velvia 50 (his printed books and slide AV shows are absolutely outstanding and unique).

There is no rule that Velvia has to be used only for landscapes. Use it for what you like, be happy. Hundred of thousands of photographers have used Velvia successfully for other subjects, too, and have been happy.
Variety in films and different looks is a very good thing and expand our creative possibilities.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Ai Print]

Sure, I did a lot of them from 1990-2002 as did a lot of shooters, like this one. The term "Portrait" is a fairly broad one, might want to narrow it down a bit....

Velvia 50 in Cambodia, 2002.

 

[trondsi]

I love that picture Ai Print!