Filters, what are they for?

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Mr. Z

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Hi there, I was recently quite interested in the usage of filters tool, but I cant justify getting them just because I want one for that particular landscape shots I m after.

My skies are often overblown, so I guess an ND filter would do me good. For that, there will be threaded and cokin style filter.

If i were to use cokin type of filter, that would means more filters possibilities. At the moment, I can only see the possibilities of using them in landscape photography only. So what else can I use them filters for? I m looking at a potrait point of view as well on top of other style of photography.

Hope someone can shed some lights on this, thanx.
 
I'd use a grad filter for the skies otherwise the grounds going to get to dark at the same time. Most filters are there for landscape work although some specialist ones are out there which could i suppose be used in portraits (although gels on the lights would probably do a better job and limit the amount of glass in front of the sensor?).
 
Most of the work that previously required filters can no be done in software. IMO, doesn't leave much beyond NDs and polarising filters.
 
You want an ND Grad for blown skies - dark at the top, clear at the bottom. A square filter gives more control over the hight of the fade.

An ND filter is used to reduce exposure over the whole image (it's dark all over) good for blurring flowing water in landscapes. The other good landscape filter is a polariser - it darkens blue skies and reduces reflections, which increases saturation.

You might want to try a soft-focus filter for portraits if that's your style, but that's it.
 
Pop along to your local library and see if they have a book called The Photographer's Guide to Filters by Lee Frost or Inspiring Professionals by Lee (the filter manufacturer)
 
I ll try to get hold of that book in the library after my exams and read up on it..
I ll be back m8s..

Again, thanx for the reply..

HoppyUK: I ve seen some pictures with a soft filter, but i believe that its nothing which cant be achieved with a photoshop gausian blur + softening.. so i dun think its that important to have that..
 
Mr. Z said:
I ll try to get hold of that book in the library after my exams and read up on it..
I ll be back m8s..

Again, thanx for the reply..

HoppyUK: I ve seen some pictures with a soft filter, but i believe that its nothing which cant be achieved with a photoshop gausian blur + softening.. so i dun think its that important to have that..
Click to expand...

You can do a fair job of replicating many filter effects digitally, but not always, and often it is far easier to do it in-camera.

In the case of soft focus, I've not yet seen true soft focus done digitally. Which is why I've just bought a special lens - Canon 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus :)
 
If your only problem is blown skies in landscape, then one option (should you have a tripod, and wish to screw around in photoshop), is to take two exposures (or even 3 if using auto-bracket) for each landscape. You expose one for the gound, and one for the sky. Then you can pick and choose the sky in photoshop.
Some would consider that cheating though.

Otherwise an ND grad could help to achieve the same effect.
 
I use ND grads (balance sky and landscape), ND's (Used when I want to smooth running water for example) and a circular polariser (when I want to remove non metallic glare). I would say almsot anything else can be reproduced PP.
 
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