Nobel Portraits on Stamp , How can I create the same tones ?

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jun 7, 2011

This is a Irish Nobel Winners on Literature , portraits engraving on Swedish Postal Stamp in recent years.

I want to get the similar quality at my negatives and after that scans. I have Rollei 35 S with Sonnar and Leica Mini Zoom with Elmar. These cameras are new to me and I have nearly no experience.

Is it possible to match with this quality and what do you technically see at these portraits. I saw some Hasselblad portraits match with this quality but I dont know how to do with my cameras.

Is it matter of taking and development with zone system ? How did you achieve this quality.

Umut

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jun 7, 2011

I have never use lights at my pictures in my life may be its time to invest some light sources. What kind of equipment do I need , dont say ARRI .
Can you describe more ?

Umut

Klainmeister · Jun 7, 2011

These type of shots can be accomplished usually with a good, standard portrait lighting setup and a dark background which is out of focus/dof is short enough.

Dead Link Removed

Kinda a simple idea of what I am talking about. You shouldn't have to concern yourself with the zone system to accomplish these type of images.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jun 7, 2011

Which film , developer combination gives me these little light nuances ? I am thinking diluted HC 110 and Tri X but TMAX gives a little bit more light in the print. Or do I need to use D23 ? I think stamp looks like Selenium toned. Is there a paper and developer for match the this engraving look ? And what about dodge burn effect with holed papers ?

Umut

tomalophicon · Jun 7, 2011

Get out a pencil and paper, draw your portraits then take a photo of the drawings and you'll get what you're looking for.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jun 7, 2011

I am seriously researching engraving for last 10 years and I was thinking to buy a burin , loupe and a steel plate , engrave it . But what about the talent ?

michaelbsc · Jun 7, 2011

I suspect part of what you see is the printing mechanics. I'd bet you a Dollar to a Euro that you get what you want by printing in halftone.

(Or do you still use Lira? It's embarrassing as an American that we're so disconnected from the rest of the world I don't even know.)

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jun 7, 2011

Yes , Lira ! We still use it. You know less about other countries and know more about your country. I know other countries more than my country. Which one is embrassing ?

removed account4 · Jun 7, 2011

umut

you need 4 lights

a background light
a hair light ( on a boom to the top of the head )
a main ( key ) light
and a fill

processing + printing ...
not sure if you want tonality or sheer black/white like the stamps
but if you find old techpan ( rollei makes something similar ? )
you can use that at a high asa and process in print developer (tech pan )

or process normally and print on a high grade paper ( or filter grade )
as greg said, its all lighting ...

and knowing how to pose/talk to the person you are photographing ,,,

JS MD · Jun 7, 2011

Re: jnanian
you need 3 lights and
french flag
3 years to work as assistant in Portrait studio with Master
5 years as studio photographer
and you are ready to try

removed account4 · Jun 8, 2011

JS MD said:
Re: jnanian
you need 3 lights and
french flag
3 years to work as assistant in Portrait studio with Master
5 years as studio photographer
and you are ready to try

yeah, that other stuff too, but that's obvious

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Jun 8, 2011

Erhm, these are drawings. You'll need pencil and paper to have these tones. Or an engraving plate.

archer · Jun 9, 2011

Dear Umut;
To try to duplicate these drawings with film, you will need a white background that is evenly lit and at least 1/2 stop brighter than the subject. The lights or light on the subject should be slightly higher than the subject and placed at 45 degrees and a ratio of no less than 1 to 7 brightness from main light to fill light or you could use a reflector for fill. The camera should be slightly higher than the eyes of the subject as I look at the examples you provided. For exposure, underexpose by 1 and1/2 stops and push development by at least 50% or more and print on paper of hard contrast 3 1/2 to 5. The above procedure should get you very close to what I see as your examples.
Denise Libby

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jun 9, 2011

Denise ,

Thank you very much for your kind , informative answer.

I want to thank all responders also.

Umut

Nobel Portraits on Stamp , How can I create the same tones ?

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