Filters

Originally created by:

Kim WilsonWest Brook c/o 2009

Additional slides by various other students, edited by Drew Loker

Filters to Attach to Your Lens

ND filter helps with scenes that have two dramatic levels of light, BRIGHT and SHADOW.

Here is how to attach a filter with a Filter System…

Installing the filterTo install a filter, you need to slide it in through a narrow slot on each side of the filter holder.

The ND grad filter is now correctly installed and ready to be used!

Main Types

1. Filters to attach to your camera – to apply an effect or correction BEFORE the photo is taken.

2. In camera – digital effects3. Adobe Photoshop – Filters as plug ins…

to be applied AFTER a photo has been taken.

Filters are used to enhance and/or correctly render a scene fromits original state. Filters can be used on the camera and/or on the computer.

With digital cameras, many filters are somewhat obsolete. One reason is because sometimes it is better to capture the

image as an original straight image. Appling a computer filter after the fact allows you to keep the original intact.

Another reason is due to built in camera controls, such as a white balance, or in-camera effects. However, in-camera effects such as black and white, should be

avoided. And, under diverse lighting, it is best to shoot in Camera RAW

so that the white balance can be tweaked at the computer level with out altering the original image. Take for example an alter of a televised church with sun

beaming in from stained glassed windows filling in the shadows created by the incandescent lights with fluorescent background lighting. While the White balance can also be adjusted for by placing a filter over the flash head, known as a gel.

Several traditional filters are still very effective to use in front of the glass (and even somewhat difficult to reproduce on the computer).

Several traditional filters are still very effective to use in front of the glass (and even somewhat difficult to reproduce on the computer).

Polarizer – one of the most popular filters. Side effect: loss of two stops of light…but this can be a good thing. Remember your Equivalent Exposures to slow that waterfall or get an extra long exposure?

Neutral Density – helps to reduce exposure by 1, 2 or 3 stops…helpful for portraits outdoors, or waterfalls, etc. In the case of portraits, a ND can help use a larger aperture to achieve shallower depth of field. IN the case of waterfalls, a ND can help to achieve a blurred water effect by allowing a slower shutter speed by 1-3 stops. A ND looks like a Polarizer…but is more like a welders helmet…it is used to slow down the shutter with out affecting the color of the image.

Split Field – are especially effective for the wide range of contrasty scenes we run across. SFs come in two main types: circular (screw on) and square (held on by a holder). The circular are the most convenient, while the square type are the most effective. If you don’t have a filter, see how to mimic the use of split neutral density filters and blending exposures: http://www.fredmiranda.com/article_2/ and http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/blended_exposures.shtml

Infrared – although the infrared affect can be simulated, using an IR filters is the most effective.

Star – always a lot of fun, especially around Christmas time…or for weddings with candles. Protective UV or Haze. I personally do not believe in putting even high quality filters on a

lens just for protection except in particularly harsh conditions. Originally used to cut glare for film, today, with digital camera, really only to protect.

Soft Focus– particularly a spot filter. This filter is easy to make and use…and save a lot of time in the darkroom or computer.

Polarizer

• Intensifies colors and contrast

• Reduces reflections and haze

• Slows down the shutter (can be both a negative and/or a positive effect)

• Good: Waterfalls

• Bad: Slow shutters on windy days

Polarizer

• Polarizer helped intensify the colors of the rainbow just barely visible. You can also just barely see a 2nd rainbow.

Polarizer

Polarizer

Polarizer

Polarizer – used sunglasses in front of P&S Camera, Dunn Falls, Jamaica -

Polarizer

• Hamilton Pools, Austin, Tx –(left) – slow shutter blurred waterfall.

• Grand Tetons – POL eliminated clouds in the water…you can see through the water to the rocks.

Polarizer – Yellowstone NP, slow water

Polarizer – Lake Charles, LA – Pol and IR filters for contrast and surreal Lighting

Polarizer

Polarizer

So, where else will you find Polarized glass?

Polarizers in…

Let’s talk about protection

UV Filters – useful for more than photography, where else do you see UV Protection Ratings?

The lack of UV Protection on some products can be more dangerous than not using the product at all. What product am I talking about?

UV Filters

Buy a filter of the largest size lens you plan to own, like a 77mm standard size filter. Purchase stepping rings to fit to other lenses. ☺

Best place to buy: http://thefilterconnection.com/

Quality of filters. Not all filters are created equal. Top quality filters will include special coatings to assist with chromatic aberrations and flare. Standard designations my include MC or HMC.

Neutral Density

Soft Filter

Without filter With Filter

Adds a soft effect to your picture. Like to a bridal portrait.

Crosshair/Star Filter

Spot Filter

Puts a sweet spot in focus. (Similar to the Lens Baby) (this examples doesn’t really show the effect…sorry.)

Vertical FilterSort of a strange filter…works like a prisim, spliting the image into multiple images strips

Lens Filter Tips Buy a filter of the largest size lens you plan

to own, like a 77mm standard size filter. Purchase stepping rings to fit to other lenses.

Best place to buy: http://thefilterconnection.com/

Quality of filters. Not all filters are created equal. Top quality filters will include special coatings to assist with chromatic aberrations and flare. Standard designations my include MC or HMC.

Filters in Photoshop

Filters take on a different meaning when working in Photoshop. Filters can be applied to all or part of an image, such as turning part of a pictures black and white. There are numerous built in filters that come with Photoshop and PS Elements. In addition, there are many filters that are freeware or can be purchased directly off the Internet very inexpensively.

Click Filter on the top bar Then hover to artistic Then click Colored Pencil

Step 1:

Step 2:Use the controls on the side

to modify your picture to your liking

Colored Pencil

Conte Crayon

Poster Edge

The End!! :-)