Contrast filters and skin tones.

[macmx]

I was just looking at some photographs by Ragnar Axelsson (the're great by the way) and he obviously uses contrast filters, yet he is able to keep the faces looking natural and not too white.

I was wondering, whether someone can advise too which extent (which filter) you can use before the faces start to turn out white with white lips? Is a green filter a good alternative to orange if you want dark skies but keep the faces?

Is it possible to use some kind of exposure compensation, to keep the faces/skin looking normal while darkening everything around. I don't mind dark photos, and much prefer deep blacks than blown out whites, but I think skin should always be well balanced.

I use a medium yellow (8) filter now, but would like darker skies.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Mc

 

[wbulte]

Darker skies typically means an orange instead of a yellow filter.
Of for even more drama: a red filter.

 

[seablister]

While I'm far from an expert on either filter usage or Axelsson, I can pass along what I've read and seen. Others will chime in.

First the reading... sky's can be darkened with yellow, orange, red, green and polarizers to varying degrees. However, there can be an impact on caucasian skin tones because that skin contains red. The yellow/orange/red family of filters will lighten the red in skin tones and make it look plasicky. Conversely, green filters will darken the red in caucasian skin and give it a ruddy look... maybe good for a man, but hardly complimentary to the female. Polarizers will darken the sky w/o much impact on complexion.

From this, one might conclude that Axelsson didn't use the yellow/orange/red family... but might have used green or a polarizer.

Now to what I've seen, or not seen. I, too, am a fan of Axelsson... having both his book (Faces of the North) and his 30 minute DVD documentary... which shows him using his cameras. Had he been using a polarizer, it would have been obvious... and it wasn't. It would have been especially obvious since 2 of the 3 cameras he used were RF's. And while I'm less certain about his use of other filters, I have to admit I wasn't looking for it.

But from the results, I would have to say that he either uses green or none at all.

Hope this helps.