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Light And Dark: The Racial Biases That Remain In Photography
NPR Code Switch ^ | April 16, 2014 | Tell Me More Staff

Posted on 04/16/2014 9:44:01 PM PDT by KneelBeforeZod

A lot of [the design of film and motion technology] was conceived with the idea of the best representation of white people. And I don't mean to say that it was a deliberate and exclusionary practice, but [it was] much more of a willful obliviousness, if you will. So color film in its early stages pretty much developed around trying to measure the image against white skin. ...

(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Miscellaneous; Society
KEYWORDS: photography
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To: Salamander
"I do IR."

Digital IR?

I have seen that digital cams can capture more of the IR spectrum, but one would have to do a filter to take advantage of just the IR and then false color it.

21 posted on 04/16/2014 10:54:26 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Paladin2

I have volunteered my services at the local animal shelter to try and avert the “black dog syndrome” via *good* photos of their dogs.

The snobby jerks said they have their own photographer.
[an under-educated employee with a pocket camera]

But yeah, Labs tend to be like black holes, sucking in all the light of the room.

:D

You think it’s hard to photograph them, you should try painting one.

Yikes.

Stressful.

The key is disregarding what you *see* and painting instead, what the viewer should see.

Lots and lots of white/washed out blues, blacks and grays with bits of green, brown or red.

It defies explanation.

Black Poodles and Chows are even worse.

The defining highlights tend to just not be there so you gotta get “creative”.


22 posted on 04/16/2014 11:03:31 PM PDT by Salamander (Agent Of Fortune)
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To: dr_lew

There’s a ton of techniques for photographing other dark subjects so as not to lose shadow or light.

In my photography classes, we were often given “impossible” dark objects which we had to creatively light in order to show all or most of the object while still maintaining the dimensionality of it.

Then again, Kodak was not much of a source for photo techniques beyond really basic stuff.


23 posted on 04/16/2014 11:07:23 PM PDT by Salamander (Agent Of Fortune)
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To: Paladin2

I have a Fuji forensic IS1 which is set up for IR only and several other older digicams which are *really* sensitive to IR, such as the Oly C2020 [the best] and the Oly 2100.

They were made before the cut filters were placed to stop the “x ray voyeur” syndrome.
[so stupid, I know]

As cool as the Fuji is, the Oly C2020 is the killer for false color IR...handheld exposure, real-time view, no less.

I have a slew of filters that offer insane ranges of false color, which I like better than straight B/W IR.

And then there’s the tons of PS filters to fiddle with endlessly.

I’m also messing with UV and full spectrum but IR is what I like most.


24 posted on 04/16/2014 11:14:22 PM PDT by Salamander (Agent Of Fortune)
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To: Salamander
"Lots and lots of white/washed out blues, blacks and grays with bits of green, brown or red."

Clearly shifting the lighting values is the only way to be able to see them. The Black Dog seems to have but purple highlights, not unlike Ravens.

I think it can be done digitally if the camera is initially setup to capture small variation in light levels in the dark region.

That's why I'm happy to have the Yellow Lab colored dog, 'cause I can actually see her on a dark night in the back yard. The Black Dog could easily work outside in the night for the CIA as a spook....

25 posted on 04/16/2014 11:16:33 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Salamander
Then again, Kodak was not much of a source for photo techniques beyond really basic stuff.

Plus, what else were they gonna say?

26 posted on 04/16/2014 11:32:51 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: PA Engineer
Wascist!

Vas ist, mein herr?

27 posted on 04/16/2014 11:33:26 PM PDT by Misterioso
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To: PA Engineer
That's my case in a nutshell.

10 levels of light? Sacre Bleu.

I can take that pic with but 2 levels.

28 posted on 04/16/2014 11:35:29 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: dr_lew

They also said it was widely believed that there were special techniques, different lighting, etc., that were needed. That’s what they were denying.

Most snapshots are just crummy. People of all colors take horrible pictures of people of all colors.

Just watch Gone With the Wind, and you can see why the makeup artists, the cinematographers, the lighting experts, etc., made the big bucks. Everybody of every color looks great.

This NPR story is just pure crap. Looking for racism where there is none.

The real problem is all those racist cell phones that keep recording black youths knocking out white people.


29 posted on 04/16/2014 11:36:34 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: Right Brother
LOL

LOL.

30 posted on 04/16/2014 11:37:44 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Paladin2

Exactly like ravens!

I have clip-on flashing LEDs for my dogs, if we’re outside for very long at night so I know where they are.

Since they guard silently at night, *not* seeing them is an advantage.

Imagine a burglar’s’ surprise.

:D

When I was young and lived at home, my dad was always yelling about my Dobes “suddenly appearing from nowhere” and goosing him when he came home from 2nd shift at midnight.

Freaked him out every time.


31 posted on 04/16/2014 11:38:18 PM PDT by Salamander (Agent Of Fortune)
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To: Salamander

I’m going to have to check this out tomorrow...


32 posted on 04/16/2014 11:38:39 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: dr_lew

I would have delicately suggested some things but that’s just me.

:)


33 posted on 04/16/2014 11:39:19 PM PDT by Salamander (Agent Of Fortune)
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To: Paladin2

Olympus C2020s go pretty cheap on eBay, despite their reputation as *the* IR digicam.

Less than $50 will net you a decent one.

The expense is buying the old SmartMedia cards and a card reader.

All you really need is a 72 [720nm] filter.

The 25 is really *too* red unless you’re aiming for B/W results.


34 posted on 04/16/2014 11:42:45 PM PDT by Salamander (Agent Of Fortune)
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To: Salamander
"Freaked him out every time. "

LOL.

I do have a clip-on LED capable of flashing for when we get to host the Big Black Dog (BBD).

35 posted on 04/16/2014 11:43:09 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Paladin2

Best starting point

http://dpfwiw.com/ir.htm


36 posted on 04/16/2014 11:43:56 PM PDT by Salamander (Agent Of Fortune)
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To: Paladin2

Does it look purple when off but is really screaming bright red when on?

Has several flash modes, including “epilepsy”?

;D

[I’d hear dad in the driveway every night at 12:20 AM and wait for the “WOOOO!” as they poked him in the butt with their noses. They were just saying “Hey”] ;]


37 posted on 04/16/2014 11:47:16 PM PDT by Salamander (Agent Of Fortune)
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To: Salamander
"wait for the “WOOOO!” as they poked him in the butt with their noses. They were just saying “Hey”] ;]"

You shouldn't have been stayin' up so late....

38 posted on 04/16/2014 11:54:03 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: KneelBeforeZod
"A lot of [the design of film and motion technology] was conceived with the idea of the best representation of white people."

Just when you thought N.utty P.rogressive R.acists can't get any more ludicrous...

39 posted on 04/16/2014 11:54:16 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: Paladin2

It was worth it.


40 posted on 04/16/2014 11:57:24 PM PDT by Salamander (Agent Of Fortune)
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