Skintone, pale vs orange

[JELSTUDIO]

I am looking for advice on how to get photos of people that have a skintone more like the B example.

Both photos are shot in daylight (sunshine)

Person B does have darker, more tanned, skintone naturally, and person A does have pale skintone naturally.

Both images are shot with a Canon.

Would you say that both pictures show natural skintone and that the difference is due to actual skintone? Or is there something I can do to make person A have a tone closer to person B?

I have tried excessive white-balance warming on image A, with the result that whites all became wrong. It did warm up the skintone a bit though, but in general it made the image look less correct in terms of whitebalance (image B has perfect looking whitebalance where white is white)

Do you think this difference is simply due to the 2 people's real skintone, or is some secret magic used on image B? (image A is auto-whitebalance and standard picture profile and auto-exposure by camera. I don't know for certain what the settings used on image B were, but it's likely it's also auto-settings, so both images should be fairly comparable in terms of both light and camera-settings)

I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do or if both images look correct to people (I've looked so much at them for hours now I can't make sense of it currently (can't see the forest for all the trees ))

Also, notice how the shadow-tone becomes more saturated on image B (near the hair-roots)

Is this a trick used by pro-photogs that I don't know about? Or is it just the subject has that skintone?

If I raise saturation on image A, it just turns it more red and magenta.

What do you think?

Thanks.

JEL

 

[Mako2011]

I am looking for advice on how to get photos of people that have a skintone more like the B example.

A looks quite normal to me and perhaps a bit more natural. A lot depends on the type of monitor your using. Is your monitor color calibrated?

Both photos are shot in daylight (sunshine)

Person B does have darker, more tanned, skintone naturally, and person A does have pale skintone naturally.

Not being there in person, I'd say both look normal then

Both images are shot with a Canon.

Would you say that both pictures show natural skintone and that the difference is due to actual skintone?

Seems that way

Or is there something I can do to make person A have a tone closer to person B?

If anything, I'd say b seems a bit more influenced by light conditions, but wasn't there so can't be sure

My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)

 

[SoCalWill]

A is cool light, B is warm light, but be aware that if you are concerned about skin tone at all, you need to be shooting RAW; most skin tone problems arise from the JPG not allocating its limited color palette accurately.

 

[DenWil]

I am looking for advice on how to get photos of people that have a skintone more like the B example.

Both photos are shot in daylight (sunshine)

Person B does have darker, more tanned, skintone naturally, and person A does have pale skintone naturally.

Both images are shot with a Canon.

Would you say that both pictures show natural skintone and that the difference is due to actual skintone? Or is there something I can do to make person A have a tone closer to person B?

I have tried excessive white-balance warming on image A, with the result that whites all became wrong. It did warm up the skintone a bit though, but in general it made the image look less correct in terms of whitebalance (image B has perfect looking whitebalance where white is white)

Do you think this difference is simply due to the 2 people's real skintone, or is some secret magic used on image B? (image A is auto-whitebalance and standard picture profile and auto-exposure by camera. I don't know for certain what the settings used on image B were, but it's likely it's also auto-settings, so both images should be fairly comparable in terms of both light and camera-settings)

I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do or if both images look correct to people (I've looked so much at them for hours now I can't make sense of it currently (can't see the forest for all the trees ))

Also, notice how the shadow-tone becomes more saturated on image B (near the hair-roots)

Is this a trick used by pro-photogs that I don't know about? Or is it just the subject has that skintone?

If I raise saturation on image A, it just turns it more red and magenta.

What do you think?

Thanks.

JEL

Simply saying shot in daylight does not mean anything. Daylight is from sunrise to sunset and offers a variety of tonality. Shot under identical conditions with the same gear same settings five minutes apart then for better or for worse they are each what they are.

I would seriously doubt that is the case. Even from these cropped frames the lighting is obviously different.

--
dw
denniswilliams.net

 

[JELSTUDIO]

Thanks for all replies

I'll put the difference down to a combination of skintone and lighting, and just accept I still have a lot to learn on how to get the colors I want

Is your monitor color calibrated?

No

 

[Mako2011]

Thanks for all replies

I'll put the difference down to a combination of skintone and lighting, and just accept I still have a lot to learn on how to get the colors I want

Good luck.... we all can learn more.

Is your monitor color calibrated?

No

Took me a while to realize I was never seeing the images as the camera intended and that I was never seeing it the same way others were (unless I was showimng a print) on their screens,

A color calibrated monitor lets you see exactly what the camera is supposed/designed to show.... and allows you to be sure others with a calibrated monitor are seeing exactly what you see. When it comes to color, and especially skin tones, it can be critical. Something that "looks" right on a non-calibrated monitor, can look way off on most other displays. Just something to consider.

Just have fun!

 

[JELSTUDIO]

Good luck.... we all can learn more.

Took me a while to realize I was never seeing the images as the camera intended and that I was never seeing it the same way others were (unless I was showimng a print) on their screens,

A color calibrated monitor lets you see exactly what the camera is supposed/designed to show.... and allows you to be sure others with a calibrated monitor are seeing exactly what you see. When it comes to color, and especially skin tones, it can be critical. Something that "looks" right on a non-calibrated monitor, can look way off on most other displays. Just something to consider.

Just have fun!

Thanks

Yes, good advice. I have 2 different monitors on the computer at the moment (well, a monitor and a TV), and they show different color-tone and contrast. I also double-check photos on other people's computers when I can. But yes, it is like flying somewhat blind.

 

[KE_DP]

Do you want color accurate skin tones? If so, shoot a while balance reference (like the WhiBal Card) for each location, camera, lens and lighting change.

If you want ambient tones (sunset, candlelight etc) a WB reference will strip that color out - so it's the opposite. The two images you put up are opposite ends of the spectrum. The orange one looks like it "might" have been a sunset ambient light situation - or artificially altered in that direction.

Another piece of this is to have a high quality professionally calibrated monitor. Over time with training you will gain the ability to "see" if a skin tone is color correct for the situational lighting. Many pros can even adjust by eye alone.

It's very helpful to shoot in RAW for this - and to use good quality software that allows for in depth editing of colors, temperatures and the ability to sample your WB reference. (Lightroom & CaptureOne come to mind)

Hope this helps.

 

[KE_DP]

Attached is an image for WB skin tone reference - this was provided many years ago by someone I don't recall - maybe by one of the online labs - regardless it's a good reference for what is accurate skin tone. (not adding to ambient lighting)







--
- Karen

Karen Engel Photography Headshot Senior Portrait Professional Editorial Family Bakersfield Commercial

Karen Engel Photography, Bakersfield, Los Angeles. Senior Portraits, headshots, photographer, portraits, head shots, business, headshot, editorial, events, wedding, children, family, couples, engagement, anniversary, weddings, fashion, beauty, couples, special event, models, high school senior...

www.karenengelphotography.com

 

[Last Bastion]

Attached is an image for WB skin tone reference - this was provided many years ago by someone I don't recall - maybe by one of the online labs - regardless it's a good reference for what is accurate skin tone. (not adding to ambient lighting)



--
- Karen
http://www.karenengelphotography.com

This is such an amazing reference!

I will totally need to bookmark this thread

 

[JELSTUDIO]

Do you want color accurate skin tones? If so, shoot a while balance reference (like the WhiBal Card) for each location, camera, lens and lighting change.

If you want ambient tones (sunset, candlelight etc) a WB reference will strip that color out - so it's the opposite. The two images you put up are opposite ends of the spectrum. The orange one looks like it "might" have been a sunset ambient light situation - or artificially altered in that direction.
It's very helpful to shoot in RAW for this - and to use good quality software that allows for in depth editing of colors, temperatures and the ability to sample your WB reference. (Lightroom & CaptureOne come to mind)
Hope this helps.

Thank you

Your reference-image is very helpful I will be using that as a color-adjustment 'crutch' for sure

Currently I use Canon's own DPP software, which I find is the most useful when working with Canon raw files (I have used Lightroom5 in the past, but never really enjoyed that software very much. For a while I switched to Rawtherapee, which I think is better than Lightroom, but since Canon released DPP4 that has been my favorite)

I've done some test-shots of a mannequin-head, but so far only indoors and so far mostly to learn about focus-depth (to find ideal f-numbers for various types of portraits). I will do some outdoors in different lighting to see if I can learn something about color too

 

[Donald B]

I use ps bridge , "in camera raw" to adjust skin tones on my jpegs the orange colour control is great.

cheers don