Evening shot with Tungsten

[Mike V]

Hi guys,

I am still climbing the learning curve when it comes to Large Format photography. I have been to a location and took snap shots with my DSLR as part of some re-search. I would like to return and shoot a variation this shot:



I have some Fujichrome 64 Tungsten. I wanted to know whether I am missing anything? Would I be ok without filters for example?

Thanks in advance.

[mandoman7]

An odd coloring alone does not make an artistic statement.

Tungsten film is intended to be used with a certain kind of light. Before digital, it was sometimes used as way of introducing unique coloring to certain scenes. Now you can do this in photoshop, so its even less of a way of suggesting "creativity".

A good way of developing skills is to actually read the paperwork that comes with the film and trying it that way first. Then, shoot the film in different settings, making notes of what you're trying to do. And then, assess the results and make decisions about its usage. This is the way we used to do it before the internet gave everybody the impression that there was no such thing as craft.

[William McEwen]

Fred Picker frequently responded with the words TRY IT.

Mike, the way I see things, it's your picture, not ours. Try whatever you wish, with the goal of making a picture YOU like.

[Mark Sampson]

In architectural photography, it's a standard practice to shoot a tungsten-lit house against a blue twilight/dusk sky, on tungsten-balance film. The effect is to render the incandescent-lit house more or less 'normally' while the sky goes a deep, brilliant cobalt. You've seen this effect a hundred times in ads and 'shelter' magazines, whether you recognized it as such or not. It's certainly a valid, and useful, technique; if you think it's a good idea for this subject, by all means TRY IT! You might also enjoy shooting the same scene with daylight-balance film so you have something to compare it against.
Mandoman7 is perhaps being a bit harsh, if only because the method I'm mentioning here is not listed in any film manufacturer's data sheets (as far as I know). When you get a finished picture, though, please share it with us.

[mandoman7]

Yes, I woke on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Sorry.
But, like McEwen says, its best to go ahead and try it. The internet is great for answering questions, but there still needs to be an investment of time and thought if you're going to get anywhere.

[Mike V]

I am going to try the shot tomorrow evening/night. If the sky is right I will get two shots. One at sunset and one at night.

[mandoman7]

What are you doing to determine exposure Mike?

[Mike V]

What are you doing to determine exposure Mike?

I have Polaroids to double check composition and exposure. The only difference is the colour balance and iso.

I will also take my DSLR to triple check exposures.

[mandoman7]

I have Polaroids to double check composition and exposure. The only difference is the colour balance and iso.

I will also take my DSLR to triple check exposures.

You should get close with those 2 references, but the behaviour of the tungsten film may not be the same as polaroid for very long exposures (longer than a few seconds). There is info that comes with both polaroid and color film that gives you the compensations for very long exposures. Could save you some grief.

Shooting wise, it can be interesting to find mixed light sources when you're using tungsten film. An interior lighting scene juxtaposed with some kind of outdoor dusk lighting is a frequently used approach that works very well by using the coloring to define 2 separate but related spaces. The point being to suggest that the characteristics of a film can be used to support conceptual ideas... once a few dues have been paid by way of experimentation. Have fun with it.

[Allen in Montreal]

I miss E 6.
Only one lab left in town that will soup it.

In case you have not downloaded the data chart yet:

http://www.fujifilmusa.com/shared/bi...AF3-024E_1.pdf


5. LONG EXPOSURE COMPENSATION

Reciprocity compensation is not required if exposure
times remain within the 1/15 to 64 second range. However,
in cases where over 64 seconds are necessary,
exposure compensation as shown in the following table
should be used..........