See comments below: On 1/7/03 10:56 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> I guess what I am wondering is when I look at something like this I am not > sure what contrast means. > > Does high contrast mean the film HAS high contrast, or can it can HANDLE high > contrast? The column refers to the way the film reproduces a scene's lighting. High contrast films will exhibit a strong difference between highlights and shadows and unevenness in your scene's lighting will be exaggerated. Velvia is a film that demonstrates high contrast: highlights are bold and shadows are dark. I'd choose this film if the scene is more evenly lit (lower contrast) and I needed the film's pumped up color. A lower contrast film like Portra NC (a print film) will reproduce the scene with less of a difference between the highlights and the shadows. It's good when you want a soft, calm mood in people portraits. > Seems to me when one would use it would depend on which it means. Has high > contrast, shoot in low contrast situations; can handle high contrast, shoot in > low or high contrast situations. Basically, although the films listed have other characteristics, too, that will affect your results. > My one attempt at slide film so far, the pictures had too much contrast (and > the shadows too dark) -- so curious. Velvia is probably not the best choice to start with due to its narrow latitude and high contrast. These characteristics limit its usefulness for beginners shooting a wide variety of subjects. Provia 100 or 400 would be a good choice because it offers you more flexibility. I'd recommend sticking to one film for awhile until you learn what it can and can't do. t
