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Problem: Portra 160NC w Wescott Apollo Micro



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 12th 04, 05:43 PM
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Default Problem: Portra 160NC w Wescott Apollo Micro

Hello,

I shot some photos a a family gathering at a restarurant using Kodak
Portra 160NC (Nikon F100 wSB-28DX flash) with a Wescott Apollo Micro
Flash diffuser/modifer attached to the flash. Many of the photos came
back looking almost "fuzzy" or "sepia-shaded" (as best as I can
describe the effect). Since the room was rectangular some of the
background came out very dark when the shot was on the long axis of
the room but I expected that. What I did not expect was how the color
was impacted by the diffuser. Some of the ligher skinned persons
faces came out very "pinkish" and others who were dark skinned came
out very dark and "shadowy".

This was my first time using the Wescott so I was experimenting to
check on the effect. With some expections I did not like it with this
film. I've used the same film/camera/flash combination with excellent
results but was looking for a "softer" effect on candid shots. Would
the effect be the same if I used Portra 400UC?

Thanks in advance to anyone sharing their experience or advice.

Rene
  #2  
Old January 12th 04, 06:39 PM
Paul
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Default Problem: Portra 160NC w Wescott Apollo Micro


wrote in message
...
Hello,

I shot some photos a a family gathering at a restarurant using Kodak
Portra 160NC (Nikon F100 wSB-28DX flash) with a Wescott Apollo Micro
Flash diffuser/modifer attached to the flash. Many of the photos came
back looking almost "fuzzy" or "sepia-shaded" (as best as I can
describe the effect). Since the room was rectangular some of the
background came out very dark when the shot was on the long axis of
the room but I expected that. What I did not expect was how the color
was impacted by the diffuser. Some of the ligher skinned persons
faces came out very "pinkish" and others who were dark skinned came
out very dark and "shadowy".

This was my first time using the Wescott so I was experimenting to
check on the effect. With some expections I did not like it with this
film. I've used the same film/camera/flash combination with excellent
results but was looking for a "softer" effect on candid shots. Would
the effect be the same if I used Portra 400UC?

Thanks in advance to anyone sharing their experience or advice.

Rene


Sounds like the Apollo absorbed most of the flash out put and you got good
old under exposure, what did the view finder flash indicator say after each
shot, did it indicate that the flash had given full output.

Paul


  #3  
Old February 10th 04, 02:27 AM
DBob
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Posts: n/a
Default Problem: Portra 160NC w Wescott Apollo Micro

On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 10:43:50 -0600, wrote:

Hello,

I shot some photos a a family gathering at a restarurant using Kodak
Portra 160NC (Nikon F100 wSB-28DX flash) with a Wescott Apollo Micro
Flash diffuser/modifer attached to the flash. Many of the photos came
back looking almost "fuzzy" or "sepia-shaded" (as best as I can
describe the effect). Since the room was rectangular some of the
background came out very dark when the shot was on the long axis of
the room but I expected that. What I did not expect was how the color
was impacted by the diffuser. Some of the ligher skinned persons
faces came out very "pinkish" and others who were dark skinned came
out very dark and "shadowy".

This was my first time using the Wescott so I was experimenting to
check on the effect. With some expections I did not like it with this
film. I've used the same film/camera/flash combination with excellent
results but was looking for a "softer" effect on candid shots. Would
the effect be the same if I used Portra 400UC?

Thanks in advance to anyone sharing their experience or advice.

Rene


You didn't say how you were metering the flash. The SB-28X is a
fairly powerful little unit and shouldn't have trouble punching
through the Apollo Micro (I've got both). How far away were your
subjects, and what kind of ambient light was present? Check this out
with your flash meter to see how much it actually attenuates the
flash.

I finally got tired of fighting these types of flash units and got a
Quantum-X 400 W-S portable unit, there's no substitute for having
plenty of light when you need it, especially for group shots. I
almost always bounce the flash or use it bare bulb to create a more
pleasing effect.
  #4  
Old February 10th 04, 06:31 AM
zeitgeist
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Default Problem: Portra 160NC w Wescott Apollo Micro


I shot some photos a a family gathering at a restarurant using Kodak
Portra 160NC (Nikon F100 wSB-28DX flash) with a Wescott Apollo Micro
Flash diffuser/modifer attached to the flash. Many of the photos came
back looking almost "fuzzy" or "sepia-shaded" (as best as I can
describe the effect). What I did not expect was how the color
was impacted by the diffuser. Some of the ligher skinned persons
faces came out very "pinkish" and others who were dark skinned came
out very dark and "shadowy".

This was my first time using the Wescott so I was experimenting to
check on the effect. With some expections I did not like it with this
film. I've used the same film/camera/flash combination with excellent
results but was looking for a "softer" effect on candid shots. Would
the effect be the same if I used Portra 400UC?


sounds to me like very under exposed, either the flash wasn't going off, or
worse, cause you can't really tell, the flash was going off but because the
diffuser was in the way the exposure sensor saw the brilliant light up close
and thought wow that's enough light and shut the flash off much to early.

another possibility is tha the mini lab you took the film didn't think or
bother to look at what film you gave them, and they ran it through the
machine with full auto printing using a 'chanel' for the wrong kind of film,
a very common thing cause 'pro' films have a different basic color balance
starting point, I believe cause the film base has a retouchable tooth unlike
consumer films.


 




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