Gels vs No Gels, (3-images) Model is Jennifer... - Glamour 1™ Putting the Glamour Back in Photography!

**rolandogomez** · 09-15-2005, 12:42 AM

I've often been accused of using gels to "taint" my images with color, nothing wrong with that is there? But more than often I don't use gels to color my images, probably less than 50% of the time. Plus there is no Photoshop color adjustments either.

My infamous sunset image shot in Cozumel that was featured in the August issue of Studio Photography & Design did not use a single gel, not even to color the model. There is no Photoshop to color the water either, just two simple techniques I like to use, my white-balance set to 6000K to fool the camera to warm the scene and the dragging of the shutter while over-powering the sun with flash.<center>

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Well today I worked with JenniferK who lives around the corner from me as I worked on an upcoming article. Both images are shot with my camera set at the white-balance of 6000K to fool the camera for warmth--actually, when I shoot glamour, my camera is almost always set at this color temperature because I prefer to shoot warm--my style--no different than the days when Playboy photogs shot with Kodak E100SW, SW standing for saturated warm films. In digital photography we can use the white-balance like changing film emulsions.

NONE of these images in this entire post have any color adjustments in Photoshop. What you see is what was shot other than a little post-production on the model which is typical in the publication business--but no color adjustments in any image here.

In addition, I took some shots with out gels, just natural, dragging the shutter and "overpowering the sun" with flash--in this case a Hensel Ring Flash powered by a Hensel Porty Premium pack.

Later on I used a color theory technique, using exact opposites, I placed a Rosco green gel on my flash and placed an equal density Rosco Magenta gel over my camera lens. Cool stuff, adds impact to light just like I will demonstrate in NYC when I speak at Photo Plus Expo on Oct. 21st.

While there is more to this series and many reasons I shot this series, here are some shots for you to enjoy and ponder if the use of gels is over kill or effective, thanks, rg sends!
(Light Set-up with Green Gel over flash, magenta over lens, Hensel Premium Porty pack with Hensel Ringflash)

(Image with gels, Hensel Premium Porty pack with Hensel Ringflash)

(Image without gels, Hensel Premium Porty pack with Hensel Ringflash)

smOKe013 · 09-15-2005, 01:37 AM

Whaddya think RG?

**Andy_Pearlman** · 09-15-2005, 02:03 AM

The magenta/green filter thing looks great, I haven't done that in years. For some reason though, I keep thinking about what it would look like as a Polish joke - the Polish photographer would use a magenta gel on the flash and a green gel on the camera.

Regards,
Andy Pearlman
Andy Pearlman Studio

**Driftwood** · 09-15-2005, 04:21 AM

"Dragging the shutter" is a new term to me. Maybe just the language barrier (English/American) but could you explain the technique a little more.

**dynamike** · 09-15-2005, 08:09 AM

Slow shutter speed.

**dynamike** · 09-15-2005, 09:15 AM

I wouldn't worry about that comment Rolando. I'm sure you gel just as much as you don't gel. Besides, I've found that while everyone has something to say you don't necessarily have to reconsider what you do because of it.

Mike

photopro34 · 09-15-2005, 09:49 AM

Rolando,

Simply amazing!! Is there somewhere I can read more about your "trickery"? Or about the color theory u describe?

Thanks,
Michael

**Chucker** · 09-15-2005, 11:36 AM

Rolando

Just wanted to thank you. I helps me to know that someone with your talent and ability still worries about "tainted" images. I have learn a lot from viewing your work and your recent DVD. This forum is a great place to share ideas and learn from each other. Glamour photography is a new area for me. But I have been albe to use some of the ideas and techneques shared here, in my wedding photography. I have copied your style of shooting warm with some of my brides and the results have been great. Especially when the bride is pleased with the finished image. So again thank you for letting us know that you are human and worry about what others say about your work. Keep shooting and teaching.

Chucker

**Driftwood** · 09-15-2005, 12:02 PM

Thanks Mike, I understand the technique now. I have tried it myself in the past.

Just checking in case there was a new trick to be learned. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

**rolandogomez** · 09-15-2005, 10:20 PM

Chucker,

Hi. Thanks for your support and wisdom, it's greatly appreciated. Yes, I'm human and I make errors too and sometimes more than I care for--darn this busy schedule, time to find a secretary (grin).

Thanks again and thanks for being a part of the GG community and family, rg sends!