Exterior commercial orange lights

[Andy Yeomans]

Two questions:

 

What type of lights are the commercial lighting used for streets and sidewalks that emit a strong orange tone?

 

And, what color will those lights emit with cross-processing and an ISO 100 or 200 speed slide film?

 

I will be testing this with still photography, but I would like to know what to expect.

 

Thanks

 

Andy Yeomans

[Jonathan Bryant]

I believe mercury vapor. Usually they are from 2000-2500k and you can't really get rid of the orangy look because they are missing part of the color spectrum.

[Hal Smith]

I believe mercury vapor. spectrum.

Actually they're Sodium vapor lights.

[timHealy]

Actually they're Sodium vapor lights.

 

I agree. Mercury vapor are a blue-ish green in contrast.

 

Best

 

Tim

Edited September 30, 2006 by timHealy

[Mike Williamson]

Yes, they are sodium vapor lights and they should photograph basically the same color they appear to your eye. Even with cross-processing, they should still appear orange because they put out only a very narrow portion of the spectrum as they are discontinuous sources. They are actually missing most of the color spectrum, not just a small part of it.

 

There is a difference between high-pressure and low-pressure sodium vapor lights, if I'm not mistaken one type photographs more pinkish while the other looks more orange, don't remember which is which.

[Andy Yeomans]

Thanks a lot for the information. I'll post some pics when I get them.

[Kenny N Suleimanagich]

BY THE WAY, if you're trying to match to sodium vapor (orangish light), throw some 1/2 CTO with 1/4 +G on a tungsten lamp.

[Micah Fernandez]

sorry, wrong thread...

Edited October 18, 2006 by Micah Fernandez

[Xavier Plaza]

hi

 

If you want a simulate a look for Sodium Vapor lamps you can use on tugsten lamps a lee or rosco filter number 013 Straw Tint (rodrigo prieto tip)

 

 

peace

 

 

Xavier Plaza

Director of Photography