Burkley Loc: Park City

I need advice on overcoming lighting problems. I will be photographing media content in an African hospital and clinic setting. First, any advice in setting up lighting for photographing the very dark black skin that is most common in the area. The tone is striking and beautiful. In regards to lighting, is the skin handled like any other skin? I will be photographing patient care in the OR, clinics, and lectures in classrooms.

The location creates a second problem—green everywhere. The facilities are all painted with the putrid green color that used to be so common in hospitals in the US. It is everywhere inside. The green cast creates unusual coloring that can be pulled out in post processing, but I would love to diminish the PP need. Previously I was only taking memory photographs of my friends with natural light, nothing for internet use. Now it’s for publication. I will be using a couple of flashes, diffusers and foldable reflectors. I don’t own and can’t logistically get any strobe reflective lighting to the location which adds to the challenge.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

The synch function in LrC will make removing the green cast easier. In some situations where color is not central to your image, black and white works well. I was recently in the fish and spice markets in Zanzibar which are dimly lit. The people photographed beautifully. Also, as you know, ISO is your friend.

Burkley Loc: Park City

Thank you. I have noticed in many of my photographs previously done at the hospital that there is a surprising amount of reflection off of the darker skin and that the green hue and marked reflections distracts from their beautiful skin and smiles. The medical students and residents that I teach in Tanzania are a very attractive group. I plan on using reflectors and diffusers to help with the harsh reflections. I appreciate the help with the coloring.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

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Setting a custom white balance when you take the shots could help keep from picking up unwanted color cast.

Burkley Loc: Park City

Thank you James. Great idea. I will take a grey card for calibration.

Hip Coyote

This is no small challenge. I dont know how much time you have to prepare, but I strongly suggest you consider off camera flash (OCF) methods such as having a transmitter on camera and a flash in a diffuser. And to practice before heading out. There is a FaceBook group called, "Speedlight and Strobe Light Fundamentals" run by Tim Payne that is dedicated to the OCF method. Tim is avail at Flashgear.net. He also sells flash gear, obviously. He might be able to directly help you in your quest as well.

In very simple terms, they set up the exposure WITHOUT THE FLASH to get the desired ambient...usually completely black...or histogram showing black. The background can be what you want...just up the exposure. Then, they use the grey card to set the flash to exactly the middle grey. This makes sense...too much flash and it exposes towards white, too little it exposes to black. You want to be in the middle. They add or subtract flash from there. Its genius and easy. They have some excellent YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1urLvveWjjU. In this video he explains the grey card method. One thing that I noticed is he used a light-skinned dummy head to show how to do the method. You could purchase a dark skinned head and use that to practice. Maybe get fancy and get a few wigs as well. Im seeing heads on Amazon for about $40 that would do the trick...

At first it seems difficult, but after a while, you get an "ah ha" moment and it is actually quite easy. Everything you do will be in manual. For me, M is much easier when using this method. Tim just shoots at f5.6, 160ss and 100 iso. Easy.

You need the transmitter and at least one off camera flash. In the few times I have done this you can use a stand and a diffuser or you can have an assistant hold the flash. I use, and I think they advocate, Godox gear. The menu on the back of the flash and the transmitters are kinda wonky, but they work. I actually made a small cheat sheet for mine.

You'll find, counter intuitively, that the larger diffusers close to the person makes for softer light. Re: Diffuser...you could easily carry a diffuser that will work..like an umbrella thing...mine is about 25 inches and in a small roll...easy to carry on with other gear.

RE skin color. I think the method above would allow you to home in on the exposure after a few shots. Maybe see if an employee there might cooperate to help you get started. Or as mentioned, try finding a cosmetology dummy that is dark skinned.

Re: White balance...using the OCF, you will be relying on your flash color quite a bit. I don't see how you could adjust the kelvin for the green room then deal with a white flash. I do know, I would shoot in raw to be able to adjust white balance as I see fit. I also know that in Lightroom, it is possible to very easily mask the subject (who would be exposed with a white flash) and deal with the green background in some way.

There is a guy on this forum, Shapiro, who has a lot of experience with flash stuff. I THINK there is a specialty subform on portraiture....suggest you reach out to him as well.

Burkley Loc: Park City

Thank you. This is all volunteer work. The media will be for educating potential donors about our projects. I want it to look professional. All of your help is greatly appreciated.

Hip Coyote

I just watched a video on using a spyder color checker. You may want to look up a few examples of its use on youtube. That could definitely make your workflow much easier and consistent.

Burkley Loc: Park City

Thank you for the reminder. I have gotten lazy and not calibrated for a few years. That will be very important in PP. Again, an excellent suggestion.