I Still Love Tungsten

[combatentropy]

Black-and-white photography with colored filters have expressionistic effects because they aren't white-balanced. You can't tell, because they're black and white.

I thought the tungsten fans liked tungsten even after white balancing.

 

[morgan_moore]

One can question that this is 'not beautiful' (maybe it is ! ) but here one can see the 'blue light only' effect on skin.

The effect is nothing to do with glass choice or DOF or the shape/softness of the light soure

 

[ahalpert]

But that's not full-spectrum and tungsten/daylight are, no?

 

[Run&Gun]

Well, RnG, looks like we've covered the whole spectrum on this topic. Even if some of us are a little bias.

I see what you're doing.

Rob beat me to it, James. That’s what I get for going to bed early(before 2a-3a. Lol).

 

[Run&Gun]

But that's not full-spectrum and tungsten/daylight are, no?

In these type instances, though, the spectrum is being selectively attenuated to achieve a specific desired(intended) effect.

 

[Run&Gun]

I guess we can look at tungsten and sunlight as fully stocked kitchens with all the ingredients to make whatever meal we want and LED’s(and other non-continuous/full spectrum lights) as generally well apportioned kitchens, as well(now), but they are missing certain ingredients or don’t have enough of certain ingredients. With the fully stocked kitchen, everything is there that you needed make it how you want. But the other kitchen may be missing an ingredient you need or it may not have enough of that certain ingredient to flavor it fully. So yes, you can still usually make dinner in the kitchen with missing ingredients and it will probably taste good, but it may not be quite “like Mom used to make”.

 

[morgan_moore]

But that's not full-spectrum and tungsten/daylight are, no?

This is, indeed, not full spectrum - it is missing red (and green) - leds are short of deep red - so this is a bit what they give - exagerated skin tones - which in this “art” case is ok - stunning even- but in day to day shooting is considered “poor” skin tones as “imperfections” are exaggerated
Tungsten- lots or red- smooths these out giving a “Hollywood” look of Garbo or whoever

 

[ahalpert]

I'm not buying that tungsten will look different on skin than sunlight with proper white balance. The opposite of that blue filter shot is an orange filter, not tungsten. But yes, LEDs missing red hues will produce a similar effect

 

[morgan_moore]

Tungsten on skin does look different becuase the 'dark red spots' read lighter. (and therefore more 'magic')

Yes the camera needs to be set on 3200k but just like shooting with just red light where a green ball would look black (green doesnt reflect any red) a redder light will make dark red skin look lighter than when illuminated with a 'blue light'

 

[John Brawley]

I'm not buying that tungsten will look different on skin than sunlight with proper white balance.

Daylight is just as good as Tungsten in terms of spectrum and in the right conditions is usually better. More variable though and tends to change over time rather annoyingly ;-)

JB

 

[Guest]

I guess we can look at tungsten and sunlight as fully stocked kitchens with all the ingredients to make whatever meal we want and LED’s(and other non-continuous/full spectrum lights) as generally well apportioned kitchens, as well(now), but they are missing certain ingredients or don’t have enough of certain ingredients. With the fully stocked kitchen, everything is there that you needed make it how you want. But the other kitchen may be missing an ingredient you need or it may not have enough of that certain ingredient to flavor it fully. So yes, you can still usually make dinner in the kitchen with missing ingredients and it will probably taste good, but it may not be quite “like Mom used to make”.

I've been going by the new SSI rating when lighting.


Schrödinger's Superiority Index. As long as I don't test a light against anything else, it will be the best.

(It is assumed that Robby Müller would sometimes use this rating)