OT: lighting dark skins

rmack350 wrote on 8/14/2011, 10:32 PM

Lighting darker skinned people really gives you a lesson in how reflectance works, almost as much as product shots.

The key with really dark skin is that it shows the surfaces around it. Of course all skin does this but when someone is really dark you can more easily see the effects of window light and white walls. So you kind of need to mimic an environment around the person. You can't simply bang a light off their forehead and say they're lit.

Rob

kairosmatt wrote on 8/15/2011, 9:56 AM

Thanks for this!
Work in the Bahamas, so always looking for dark skin lighting tips.

kairosmatt

JackW wrote on 8/15/2011, 12:27 PM

Thanks for the reference, Serena.

My wife, a theatrical lighting designer, tells me that Bastard Amber and Chocolate are two gels that do an excellent job of enhancing dark skin tones. Both colors are available from Rosco and GAM.

Jack

Edit: I can't believe the Sony political correctness police did the **** bit to a proper noun!

Lighten up, guys, we're adults here.

The gel color is called B*a*s*t*a*r*d Amber, and has been since Brigham developed the color nearly a hundred years ago.