The [non]-use of filters?
November 28th 2007 03:58
Really good illustration
This first photo shows the different effects that can be achieved by the use of filters, one is particularly useful as you'll see by close inspection, the others show the various colours they seek to enhance or change the tonings of.
Polarising filters can add colour and contrast, but they can also impose problems.
Colour filters (ultraviolet, protective or Skylight) are recommended to protect lenses from salt sea splashes. Cameras are not meant to be exposed to salt water unless you buy a waterproof one.
There seem to be as many photographers warning against the use of filters as there are those promoting them It seems use of filters can get you into a lot of trouble, what you need often, even for bright light is a flash and a lens hood, which come in a wide variety and I may do a special post on them another day.
The photo below demonstrates a flare which you don't want, in seeking the best image from the setting the photographer has done just the opposite, what was needed was a good lens hood and possible use of flash to guard against too much light, strange as this may seem.
Spotlight
Filters can be used effectively for landscape photography to achieve the best effects but sometimes a photographer achieves better than an ideal image, which can be overpowering and not very attractive really and you'll see one of these here.
There are some "gimmicky" filters you can use but that is up to you and what appeals to you.
I guess the young find some of them particularly interesting.
You can manipulate the end results by framing and manipulating and the last image here illustrates that approach. Although these things do not appeal much to me, there are others that delight in them.
use with landscapes
special effects
Another effect
weather effects
Special effects and framing
I hope you will leave this post being just a little more enlightened.
It seems, if in doubt, don't, or take a risk and see what results.
This way you WILL learn.
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Comment by Holly Go Lightly
Movie Mage
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
Comment by Krystal
feelings
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I just recently started experimenting with filters. Used at the right time they can mean the difference between a boring photo and an exception one - just have to be careful to keep in the boundaries of reality.
ash
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
Glad you found these things interesting and Holly, no, I don't do movies and
Ash, I'm sure there's a place for filters, but they take getting used to and developing some skills, they won't cover up or substitute for a bad photo, I'd give the gimmicky ones a miss and use them for improving the colours and contrasts, one will get some variation in printing anyway, and Rosemary, lighthouses set on pathways invariably look good. But I've seen better than that one.
Lighthouses do have their own kind of attraction, I think they catch every photographers eyes.
There is such a lot of work goes into producing these posts, hardly worth the time really.
Thank you so much for your visits and opinions.
katyzzz