De-saturation in real life.

Ryan Patrick O'Hara

Ryan Patrick O'Hara

Veteran
Hey. Just thought I'd throw out a problem that needs a creative solution. I am about to embark on my researching quest, but wanted to see if anyone here had ideas.

I want to find out if there is a way to de-saturate an image in camera... on film. I need to shoot color photography and black & white... on the same roll of film. Seems impossible to me, but I am about to try and find a way. It does not have to be a gradual process. I have a feeling that color is inherent in all light, and therefore cannot be without color?

No scene file tweaking allowed. Is there a type of prism or glass which blocks or limits wavelengths of color?

I think it is impossible, but if an optical way can be used, I would be very excited.

Think about it.

Thanks!

:beer::beer:
 
The problem is that the visible spectrum is only color. You could get monochromatic shots with filters. I can't imagine a way to do it.
 
You can get very close with makeup, production design and proper lighting, especially in color. However, deep down in the depths of the film structure, there is going to be color, no matter what, in some shape or form.

I'm sure you could get acceptably close by doing the above and shooting on a low-con stock, maybe bulk load some motion picture stock, I'd try Expression 500T 5229. It's low color as well which would help. You could buy some short ends from Reel Good Film in Hollywood for under $20.
 
You can reduce saturation with any fog or softening filter, but you lose contrast and sharpness, too. If you flash film, you can also get a similar effect.

I'm sure that somewhere someone has used chemistry to develop color film as black and white. Use a DI and 5299 and you can have ten different kinds of film on a single reel, if that's what you're going for.
 
Simple - use a panchromatic filter.

(as used in a pan glass that some of us still have - f*ck , really showing my age now)
 
Thought some more about it.

Another way...

Multiple pass exposure using "Deep Cut" Red / Blue / Green Filters

And cheats - photograph a B/W monitor or copy a b/w print

All methods allow color on same roll of film.

Whats the prize for best suggestion?
 
Ryan Patrick O'Hara said:
Hey. Just thought I'd throw out a problem that needs a creative solution. I am about to embark on my researching quest, but wanted to see if anyone here had ideas.

I want to find out if there is a way to de-saturate an image in camera... on film. I need to shoot color photography and black & white... on the same roll of film. Seems impossible to me, but I am about to try and find a way. It does not have to be a gradual process. I have a feeling that color is inherent in all light, and therefore cannot be without color?

No scene file tweaking allowed. Is there a type of prism or glass which blocks or limits wavelengths of color?

I think it is impossible, but if an optical way can be used, I would be very excited.

Think about it.

Thanks!

:beer::beer:
Click to expand...

I take it that a 3 stripe Technicolor camera is out....

I don't know if this would work, and even so, probably out of the budget anyway...

But what is 'black and white' as represened in 'color film'. It is equal amounts of R, G, B (or C,M,Y), so one would have to have some sort of 'optical' computing element that computed the 'luminence' of the scene, and presented to the camera the equal valued R,G,B images...

There are optical computational elements, but I don't know exactly what they may be capable of...

Also would putting an 'Image Intensifier' in front of your lense be 'cheating'... Image intensifiers are mostly seen in movies where there's the 'night vision goggles' effect.

The problem with an image intensifier would be that... well... for normally lit situations, you'd have to put ND filters on the intensifier to cut the light way down, and the results are somewhat 'soft because of the various scintilation effects...
 
Shooter said:
Simple - use a panchromatic filter.

(as used in a pan glass that some of us still have - f*ck , really showing my age now)
Click to expand...

They make panchromatic filters you can put on a camera???

I've seen it used a lot in contrast viewing glass but I don't think I've ever heard of a panchromatic filter for a camera. Anyway no worries about the age thing, I think a lot of people still use pan glass... or at least I hope a lot of people still use pan glass because it's a really useful tool.
 
j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
If you are thinking of a Wratten #90, that still would give a 'amber' cast to the monochrome image.
Click to expand...

I don't think he means a Wratten #90... Pan glass is a bit different and it's used more for color film than black and white.

Once again though, I shudder to think about shooting through viewing glass of any kind, it just seems really intense. Next thing you know someone is going to recommend gaffer's glass and then the world will end.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top