Red filters.

Ben johns

Ben johns

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Ben
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Just got a red filter and a graduated red filter for landscape use. Obviously when I put the red filter on the camera it makes the photo darker, if I adjust the exposure then the effect the filter has on the sky pretty much goes away. I would use the graduated filter more but the effect isn't strong enough for me
 
not sure why you'd want to use a full red filter as that would colour the whole scene. Red filters are normally used for b&w. Are you shooting b&w landscapes?
Can't you buy a stronger grad?
 
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The use of the red filter in B&W is to reduce or block the GB light
in the scene or only the sky when using the graduated filter.
 
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Right ok, it's just cos I've seems people use a full filter in landscape photos before
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
If your shooting black and white, it should make a blue sky almost black.
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That's it. It depends on the strength but they can be excellent for darkening the blues and accentuating cumulus clouds. Back in the 70's I often used one when shooting airliners as the white upper fuselage (typical of that era) would be better outlined against the pasty blue sky.
 
Canon Bob said:
That's it. It depends on the strength but they can be excellent for darkening the blues and accentuating cumulus clouds. Back in the 70's I often used one when shooting airliners as the white upper fuselage (typical of that era) would be better outlined against the pasty blue sky.
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But that was with a film camera...
 
kendo1 said:
But that was with a film camera...
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Yes, Ken, you're right!
… but that was in the OP!

Works as well in digital where it records
data even more controllable with the co-
lour balance and editor.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
Yes, Ken, you're right!
… but that was in the OP!

Works as well in digital where it records
data even more controllable with the co-
lour balance and editor.
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But there is no real need with digital, just use PP so you can vary the effect to suit the image.

You're just creating problems using a red filter with digital: colour balance, exposure compensation, possibly focusing difficulties, distortion, flare...
 
kendo1 said:
But there is no real need with digital, just use PP so you can vary the effect to suit the image.

You're just creating problems using a red filter with digital: colour balance, exposure compensation, possibly focusing difficulties, distortion, flare...
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Yes. The OP doesn't mention a film camera, though in theory there is an advantage using filters over the lens with digital - when the exposure is compensated at the shooting stage, it reduces noise with a strong filter effect.

With digital, applying filter effects either in-camera or in post-processing just increases the gain in whatever channel - and increases noise at the same time. But given all the other limitations and problems, it seems hardly worth it.

Edit: with digital, shoot Raw and apply B&W filter effects in the menu. This gives you a pretty good B&W image on the LCD to preview effects, but an unadulterated Raw file you can do anything with in PP.
 
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kendo1 said:
But there is no real need with digital, just use PP so you can vary the effect to suit the image. You're just creating problems using a red filter with digital: colour balance, exposure compensation, possibly focusing difficulties, distortion, flare...
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Again, you're right but…

Like Richard said, there may be advantages.
And for the problems you raised, there are
well known solutions.
 
HoppyUK said:
Yes, like shooting digital :D
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Yes, but I was referring to…
kendo1 said:
colour balance, exposure compensation, possibly focusing difficulties,
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…suggesting that there is always a way out!

There are, as well, many ways one can make
one's own life miserable!
 
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kendo1 said:
:eek: I use film cameras!

There's no mention of a film camera and the OP's info page shows a Sony digital camera...
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Oops... :D
 
Yes it's digital, the Sony. I do usually do it in post but it doesn't always work as well as I'd like, sometimes it's the look it gives sometimes it's the noise. I just figured getting it done from the start would be easier. I have used the colour sliders in lightroom under the b&w section but it doesn't always work as I hoped. I mainly use silver fx pro 2 and the colour filters on there aren't good in my opinion
 
kendo1 said:
But there is no real need with digital, just use PP so you can vary the effect to suit the image.

You're just creating problems using a red filter with digital: colour balance, exposure compensation, possibly focusing difficulties, distortion, flare...
Click to expand...

And IVF can be very successful but there are still some people around who enjoy trying the old method :)
 
Canon Bob said:
And IVF can be very successful but there are still some people around who enjoy trying the old method :)
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...there are always the die hards...
 
Ben johns said:
Yes it's digital, the Sony. I do usually do it in post but it doesn't always work as well as I'd like, sometimes it's the look it gives sometimes it's the noise. I just figured getting it done from the start would be easier. I have used the colour sliders in lightroom under the b&w section but it doesn't always work as I hoped. I mainly use silver fx pro 2 and the colour filters on there aren't good in my opinion
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A yellow filter is probably one of my most used for B&W film. I've used a red filter, but not very often.

I can't help you with the B&W PP but someone around here might have some pointers.
 
Ben johns said:
Yes it's digital, the Sony. I do usually do it in post but it doesn't always work as well as I'd like, sometimes it's the look it gives sometimes it's the noise. I just figured getting it done from the start would be easier. I have used the colour sliders in lightroom under the b&w section but it doesn't always work as I hoped. I mainly use silver fx pro 2 and the colour filters on there aren't good in my opinion
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If you're looking for fairly extreme effects, and red counts as very strong compared to the more usual yellow or orange for darkening blue skies, then a red filter over the lens should give you a better baseline to work from in Lightroom, at least in terms of noise.

For the benefit of others, coloured filters in black & white photography are used to darken and lighten selected hues. Filters work on their own colour, by lightening it, while darkening the complimentary opposite. These are the most common coloured filters for landscapes, not forgetting the ever-popular polariser too.
- Red darkens cyan (blue-green) a lot, and lightens red.
- Yellow darkens blue moderately, lightens yellow.
- Orange is between the two.
- Green lightens green foliage etc, and darkens magenta (red-blue).
 
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