Filter for photographing stone work

[pschauss]

What filter and film type should I be using for photographs of gargoyles and other stone carvings on the outside of old churches? I normally use Plus-X or APX100 with a yellow #8 or equivalent filter, but I have not been totally satisfied with the results. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

 

[Donald Miller]

What filter and film type should I be using for photographs of gargoyles and other stone carvings on the outside of old churches? I normally use Plus-X or APX100 with a yellow #8 or equivalent filter, but I have not been totally satisfied with the results. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Depends on the color of the stone and the effect that you are trying to accomplish.

For instance if there is any yellow present in the stone color, then your yellow 8 will lighten the stone and darken blue sky for instance....it would also darken any shadows in the stone since shadows carry a high percentage of blue light.

By contrast, a blue 47 would darken yellow stone and lighten sky, if you include that in the image.

Green and red filters would be a wash unless you have sky included and a red would darken the sky more then your #8.

If the stone is white then no filter will have much of an effect.

If you want to increase contrast in your images, then a film having a long straight line such as TMax 400 or Efke would work well.

 

[glennfromwy]

The angle of the light will probably have as much effect as anything. You need enough side lighting to get those little micro shadows to show the texture. Just enough, mind you, not too much. It's a tough call.

 

[nworth]

I agree with glennfromwy that the light is most important. For things like gargoyles against the sky, I would try an orange or light red filter first. A polarizer might be useful. Be prepared to experiment. Exposure could be pretty fussy, so try bracketing.

 

[waynecrider]

I'm only responding cause I did a recent head shot of a stone carving like a gargoyle. I was able to get right in front of it due to that fact that it was at ground height. It was side lit and I put a incident meter in front of the face towards the camera and shot a couple a 1/3 apart. Unfortunetly my metering method was wrong as it was underexposed with not enough detail in the face. ISo if anything the metering is more important. I found my gargoyle mostly white or black so I don't see any benefit in using a filter. For film, I think gargoyles need a little grain, so I'd use Tri-X.

 

[gnashings]

I have shot a fair bit of stone work recently (no plan -just happened) and I have to say that I have to agree with the advice you got so far: if at all possible, hunt for the right light. I would also second the recommendation of TriX - but have also used FP4+ with really nice effect on stones. Oddly enough - I have used a yellow filter quite a bit on these as well. I find that yellow filters are wonderful to get you that "just right" look many a time - they seem to get the shadows to separate a bit more from the highlights without killing the tones in transition (I guess that's contrast, but contrast is not exactly what I am speaking of... although yellow does kick that up a bit too). But I think that in the right light you won't need the filter at all - it may actually prove to be a bit of overkill.
I think that light which you would find too harsh for, lets say, portraits or even landscapes, might give your rock that "rocky" textured look. I would give it a try when the shadows get a bit longer but while its still nice and bright.
I know its highly "non-technical" advice, but I hope it helps

Peter.

 

[noseoil]

Correct light (side light or similar), filter to firm up shadows (yellow is fine), Efke 100, Pyrocat HD and minimal agitation. Meter very carefully and place values where they belong. Nice sharp edges and fine micro-contrast. tim

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Tim's advice is excellent. To see some results with 8x10 Efke 100 and Pyrocat-HD (contact printed on Azo) visit:

http://www.contactprintersguild.com/

Then click on: Francesco Cicoli Abad

The lens is an important factor. Most of Francesco's church stonework and rocky landscape pictures were shot with a 355mm G Claron

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

What filter and film type should I be using for photographs of gargoyles and other stone carvings on the outside of old churches? I normally use Plus-X or APX100 with a yellow #8 or equivalent filter, but I have not been totally satisfied with the results. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

A standard UV filter will be fine, if you want to minimise reflections, then a polarizing filter would be useful.
Film type depends on the film format you are using and the size of the enlargements required. A good tripod and cable release is necessary for optimum sharpness. For film, the ones that you are already using are suitable although T-grain types offer finer grain at a similar ISO rating.
Providing you can still get hold of any, Kodak Technical Pan processed in the dedicated Technidol developer is simply unbeatable.

 

[Maine-iac]

What filter and film type should I be using for photographs of gargoyles and other stone carvings on the outside of old churches? I normally use Plus-X or APX100 with a yellow #8 or equivalent filter, but I have not been totally satisfied with the results. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

After photographing "old stones" in Europe for nearly a decade, I generally just left a #8 yellow filter on my lens permanently. I don't think you'll do better than that; it is important to get the exposure right, but I found that the yellow gave me the best texture and contrast of anything. I used the Delta films almost exclusively-- Delta 400 when I was handholding my Fuji 645's and Delta 100 when I was operating off a tripod. Developed in Phenidone/Ascorbic Acid/Metaborate. Nice long scale, great shadow detail, and very fine grain and acutance.

P.S. The yellow filter isn't needed with T-Max films. They're red-sensitive so you get the darkening of the sky without the filter. But with the other T-grain films from Ilford and Fuji, filters work normally.

Larry

 

[Claire Senft]

An awful lot of the stone work that I photograph is pretty neutral in color. A filter can do a good job of seperating it from the background but it can do noting to enhance a grey stone. If what you are looking for is additional texture in your stone surfaces then the lighting of the stone will provide it. If you are dealing with a surface that is always in the shade then there is little that can be done to exagerate the texture. In this case I would give a bit of additional exposure and reduced development to the negative so that it fits the scale of a harder paper. Film is a medium contrast materal while paper is a high contrast material By making your negative fit a harder paper you will increase local contrast.