Filming Dark Skinned people... Tips..?

Doug Davis · August 10th, 2008, 05:56 PM

Does anyone have any suggestions for shooting dark skinned people (black people).... I seem to really struggle getting appropriate exposure for black people... I'm sure there is a trick to it but I just have not found it yet... It seems that my background is fairly blown out if I get good exposure levels on the face... Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated...

Everts Alredjo · August 10th, 2008, 07:53 PM

For docs and news gathering this can especially be a problem just ask the person to move so the lichtsource can shine on them.( sun , house lights etc)
Or get a on camera light for interviews.
If you can afford a crew get one to hold a reflector to bounce back light so the sky doesn't get washed up.
If you shoot commercials just light them the same as you would anybody else.
There was a trick with sony vx2000 and the nd filter but it 's been a while since I used it .If I figure it out I'll post back

John Sirb · August 10th, 2008, 08:13 PM

try to avoid lighter backgrounds as the differences in contrast will drive you crazy ( sounds like you've found that out already)
a trick I just read recently (might have been from Dick Renzer's tips to clip) is getting a piece of dark window screening and hang it behind the subject. I think it said this could give you 2 f/stops and the backgfround will be darker and defused.

Jonathan Shaw · August 10th, 2008, 10:25 PM

I have used a gold coloured reflector before which seamed to work pretty well.

Kiflom Bahta · August 11th, 2008, 02:40 AM

It is hard but your best bet is to set your zebra to 80% and use ample light from whatever source.

Richard Gooderick · August 11th, 2008, 02:50 AM

I read a lot of stuff about it being difficult (lighting for an interview) but it wasn't.

Tom Hardwick · August 11th, 2008, 03:42 AM

With a very fair skinned person in shot with a black face there's no alternative but to expose for the white face - on the understanding that it's far easier to use the 'region' filter to lighten a portion of the frame than it is to try and tone down over-exposure.

With a mixture of races at an event I find it's ok to keep the exposure locked for the majority for all of the time, but for closeups it's advisable to open the iris by up to a stop for the very dark skinned.

Get to know and love your heard of zebras.

tom.

August 10th, 2008, 05:56 PM	#1
Doug Davis Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Birmingham Alabama Posts: 260	Filming Dark Skinned people... Tips..? Does anyone have any suggestions for shooting dark skinned people (black people).... I seem to really struggle getting appropriate exposure for black people... I'm sure there is a trick to it but I just have not found it yet... It seems that my background is fairly blown out if I get good exposure levels on the face... Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated... __________________ "The only thing the camera sees is light..." http://www.GoWildOlive.com

August 10th, 2008, 08:13 PM	#3
John Sirb Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Amherst, OH Posts: 69	try to avoid lighter backgrounds as the differences in contrast will drive you crazy ( sounds like you've found that out already) a trick I just read recently (might have been from Dick Renzer's tips to clip) is getting a piece of dark window screening and hang it behind the subject. I think it said this could give you 2 f/stops and the backgfround will be darker and defused. __________________ ----------------- John Sirb

August 10th, 2008, 10:25 PM	#4
Jonathan Shaw Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 158	I have used a gold coloured reflector before which seamed to work pretty well. __________________ enquiries@ginclearfilm.com www.ginclearfilm.com

August 11th, 2008, 02:50 AM	#6
Richard Gooderick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 294	I read a lot of stuff about it being difficult (lighting for an interview) but it wasn't. __________________ http://www.gooderick.com

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August 10th, 2008, 07:53 PM	#2
Everts Alredjo New Boot Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Suriname Posts: 14	For docs and news gathering this can especially be a problem just ask the person to move so the lichtsource can shine on them.( sun , house lights etc) Or get a on camera light for interviews. If you can afford a crew get one to hold a reflector to bounce back light so the sky doesn't get washed up. If you shoot commercials just light them the same as you would anybody else. There was a trick with sony vx2000 and the nd filter but it 's been a while since I used it .If I figure it out I'll post back

August 11th, 2008, 02:40 AM	#5
Kiflom Bahta Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 150	It is hard but your best bet is to set your zebra to 80% and use ample light from whatever source.

August 11th, 2008, 03:42 AM	#7
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 2,926	With a very fair skinned person in shot with a black face there's no alternative but to expose for the white face - on the understanding that it's far easier to use the 'region' filter to lighten a portion of the frame than it is to try and tone down over-exposure. With a mixture of races at an event I find it's ok to keep the exposure locked for the majority for all of the time, but for closeups it's advisable to open the iris by up to a stop for the very dark skinned. Get to know and love your heard of zebras. tom.