Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-08-09
Camera Angles

easy as SlOOCllg LIleLn III DIack
and white.I
On the other hand there
were, we found, some differ
ences in technique. We will
review these briefly before
proceeding with today's sug-
gestions for taking color pic
lures.
AS a first reminder let us
repeat that there is more than
one type of color film. In the
transparency group (Which is
still tops with the majority of
camera FANS we learned that
there are two color film types
One for taking pictures by
natural light and the other
for use under artificial illum-
nation. Each should be used
as intended. Switching them
about will result in poor color
shots unless a corrective filter
is used. So use daylight type
film for outdoor exposures and
Type A film with floods or
flash.
We also explained that the
filters used for black and white
photography will give color
films an overall cast the color
OF the monochrome filter and
therefore should never be used.
Although there are special
filters for color photography
there is seldom an occasion
when they will be needed by
the snapshot fan. A yellow or
orange filter will provide tone
contrasts on black and white
film. For example these filters
will make the sky darker so
that the white clouds will
stand out clearly on the film.
In color photography the filter
is not needed here because the
sky and clouds are reproduced
in their natural colors.
Main Point Recalled
Exposure was the other
main point of last weeks
article. Color photography is
more exacting in respect to
exposure than black and
white. While there is con-
siderable latitude in mono
chrome photography so an ex-
posure miscalculation of as
much as one full stop still
gives you a satisfactory mega
tive, the same cannot be said
of color film. Over-eXpoSure
gives a washed-out trans
psrency and underexposure
produces excessive colors and
loss of detail. Hence our ad-
monition to always use an ex-
posure meter when color film
is in the camera.
Now let's proceed to specific
problems in the use of the
color medium.
Portraiture is a favored
phase of photography so let's
talk about that right at the
start.
In black and white photog-
raphy we learned that lights
should be balanced so that
one side of the face is par
TALLY in shadow to give round
ness and depth to the picture.
The same rule applies when
you are shooting in color.
There is a difference though;
the shadow should be consider
ably lighter, so that the color
will show through. Simply use
the basic lighting used for
monochrome-then add more
f1ll-in until the shadow is Suf-
f1ciently lightened for the nat
ural flesh tones to take prece-
dence over the darker shadow
tone.
Color harmony is most i'm
portant to the portrait photog-
rapher. You nave more or less
complete control over the COL
ors worn by the subject and
of those of the background.
Make full use of this control
for the best results. If the sub
ject is wearing garments of
ClaShing colors the best thing
you can do is ask for a change.
If the background color is too
vivid and completes with the
subject, move to a new loca-
ton. In general, use a sub
dued or receding color for
your portrait background. A
painted wall or pastel-colored
blanket are excellent for the
purpose.
Avoid Vivid CoIors
In any event it is better to
keep away from vivid or strik-
ing colorS and stay with softer
pastel shades. If brighter col
orS are used it often happens
that you can't see the subject
for the colors in the print or
transparency.
Landscape scenes are an.
other important subject to thu
color fan. These are beS
taken when the scene is fully
Illuminated by a front light.
ing. Side and back lightings il
color are for the experienced
color photographer who is try.
ing for effect. In either case
shadows will record dark anC
be lacking in detail. This il
no problem. of course, if {
front lighting is employed.
In scenes of limited Scop,
such as a portion of a f1owe
garden. back and side lighting
may be used effectively by us
of a reflector which can b
used to pour light into tn
Swallowed portions of the pic
ture area. Daylight or blu
flash lamps may also be use,
to fill in. If it is not practica
to use flash or reflector Civ
half stop more exposure TO
side lighted scenes than tn
etoy1HoYd ovnacI,ra foY. . froY,