Orange Filter for smooth creamy skintones??

Casperrobo · Oct 26, 2014

I'm looking to shoot some portraits with a really smooth featureless skin tones like this wonderful photo:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37904098@N07/15448769460/in/photostream/

Would an orange filter achieve this look? I don't want to get the OTT black eyed glowing alien look of a dark red filter.

Or could you get this look just with good skin and good lighting?

Gerald C Koch · Oct 26, 2014

It might be useful for lightening freckles. But the woman in the flickr photo looks like Morticia from the Addams family. Not very flattering unless that is your intent. She looks like she is made of wax. A few blemishes are what gives a face its character. For male portraits a light green filter is he one actually recommended. You are right that careful lighting can reduce many blemishes.

Casperrobo · Oct 26, 2014

The Addams family look is a good description of what I'm going for really, I know it's not always the most flattering but it's what I'm going for.

Gerald C Koch · Oct 26, 2014

For the particular look you might also consider using an IR film or one with extended red sensitivity such as Ilford SFX. This will lighten any red tones. I must say that the photo IS striking.

hgaude · Oct 26, 2014

The lighting should be considered; look at the double catchlights in the eyes. This is very flat lighting which will minimize texture.

gone · Oct 26, 2014

This is Tri-X in D76 and flat lighting. The first is w/ an orange filter, the second is w/ a red filter. Linda is black, but she's not dark at all. The shirt was red w/ black markings. By the time I had fumbled around and switched lenses and filters, the lighting had changed on the second photo, but you get the point.

I wasn't happy w/ the orange filter on any of my shots, but it may be just what you're after. I'd say an orange filter and Acros in flat lighting would give you a very nice morgue look, assuming your model has light complected skin to begin with. I wonder what film was used on the flickr link photos above?

RalphLambrecht · Oct 26, 2014

hgaude said:
The lighting should be considered; look at the double catch lights in the eyes. This is very flat lighting which will minimize texture.

I agree,all you want s in the lighting.start with alargesoft box or umbrella.

MattKing · Oct 26, 2014

Makeup.

Michael W · Oct 26, 2014

Sample photo look comes from a big, soft, front light with exposure over the meter.

cowanw · Oct 26, 2014

Although the OP's sample Photograph has the lips of a red filter or white lipstick.

dreamingartemis · Oct 26, 2014

Gerald C Koch said:
It might be useful for lightening freckles. But the woman in the flickr photo looks like Morticia from the Addams family. Not very flattering unless that is your intent. She looks like she is made of wax. A few blemishes are what gives a face its character. For male portraits a light green filter is he one actually recommended. You are right that careful lighting can reduce many blemishes.

Don't want to come off as annoying or anything but your description deserves a "1+" !!

polyglot · Oct 27, 2014

I think part of what's going on here is gross overexposure of the film, which means that the highlight areas lose all contrast and texture because you're mostly imaging on the film's shoulder.

This, to me, is "bad tones from bad technique". Note that the skin looks dead/flat even though it's nowhere near paper-white.

Gerald C Koch · Oct 27, 2014

dreamingartemis said:
Don't want to come off as annoying or anything but your description deserves a "1+" !!

The Addams family look is a good description of what I'm going for really, I know it's not always the most flattering but it's what I'm going for.

It was the look that he wanted. Perhaps even that of the original photographer.

Orange Filter for smooth creamy skintones??

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