To FILTER or Not to Filter... Sandy Boyles Apr 2018
An Overview of Filters Objective After this session you should understand what a filter does and know when to use them what types are available how to use filters with your camera roughly what costs are involved have tried at least one on your camera compared a before and after image 2
Filters What are they for? Filters - necessary for film photographers to adjust the light hitting the film no white balance adjustment no sensitivity (ISO)adjustment within a roll (white balance) To increase tonal balance of colours in B&W images To reduce glare (polariser) 3
http://www.joecornish photographer.com/ Lee Filters : Joe Cornish Why I use filters Image of Joe Cornish by David Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o8n7vw7_co&t=3s 4
Video 3:40 mins 5
http://www.joecornishgallery.co.uk/joe-cornish-t302 6
Do you need filters with Digital Cameras? 7
http://www.thomasheaton.co.uk 8
Landscape Photography - Do We Need Filters Anymore? Thomas Heaton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvd- CKPceg0 from start up to 4:39minutes 9
www.cokin-filters.com One of many filter manufacturers From their brochures - a quick run through of some different filter effects before we go into more detail 10
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Exposure Compensation / Adjustment 3 things that affect exposure triangle Light (aperture / f stop) Time (shutter speed) Sensitivity (ISO) Beware of half and 3 rd stop settings! A One stop adjustment will halve or double the amount of light, depending on direction of adjustment. To reduce by one stop, you could go from ISO 800 to ISO 400, or change the aperture from f2.8 to f4. The opposite movement would increase by 1 stop. 25
EXPOSURE COMPENSATION EXAMPLE www.digitalcameraworld.com 26
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Cokin Ranges EVO 2 sizes M for lenses 49mm to 62mm L for lenses 52mm to 82mm Can hold 3 filters or 2 plus circular polariser on front plate CREATIVE Made of Resin NUANCES ND (lightcatcher) mineral glass free of infrared pollution high quality Schott glass for unrivaled transmission and resolution 28
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Cokin Filter Adapter Sizes Choosing the Right system C Creativefilter-holder E EVO filter holder(for wide angle at this size use a bigger system to avoid vignetting) FF under 28mm lens on full frame use bigger system 30
Beware While capable of producing great effects, if the main elements aren t there in the first place good lighting, sound composition, an interesting subject filter effects can never replace them. 31
Lee filters Jeremy walker http://www.leefilters.com/index.php/cameradirectory/camera-dir-list/category/landscapeset#wistia_k8j57xqn4d?container=wistia- 2885357-0 14 minutes 32
The columns are separate, read up or down, not across from one to another. The shaded area contains the Whole ISO Speed, Whole Shutter Speed, or Whole Aperture. The area to the right of the shaded whole settings are the 1/3 or third stop numbers. The area to the left of the shaded whole settings are the 1/2, or half stop settings. ISO values don t come in halves. There are a few information gaps where no one can agree (such as the ranges between 1/4 sec and 2 secs.). http://www.photography uncapped.com/articles/p hotography/iso-shutterspeeds-f-stops/ 33
http://www.3drender.com/glossary/colortemp.htm 34
Additional Video links: Beginner DSLR photography basics: Filters tutorial Tom Photoix http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8nn5ombed4&t=4s (Note: Slow and tedious, but makes some useful points) James Abbott proves that bad weather can still result in a successful landscape shoot. https://www.wexphotovideo.com/blog/tips-and-technique/how-to-shoot-moodylandscapes-using-filters/ James Abbott is a Cambridge-based landscape and portrait photographer. He s also a Photoshop expert with years of experience teaching Photoshop. Check out his work at www.jamesaphoto.co.uk. 35
Big Stopper Filter (10 stops) You must take meter reading before adding filter Switch to manual mode Then Manually adjust settings 10 stops Add filter and shoot 36
https://www.zippi.co.uk/thestudi o/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/photog raphy-filter-cheat-sheet-final.jpg Filter Cheat sheet A brief description of various filters and uses 37
Exercise 1 Use big stopper or ND that is too dark to see through in here. Meter without filter, add filter Turn to manual exposure and adjust exposure. Retake without further adjustment Were you right? With 2 stop graduated filter 1/6 second exposure Added a Lee Big Stopper with 188 second exposure https://ianspagnolo.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/lee-big-stopper-test-before-and-after.jpg 38
Exercise 2 Try shooting through window with reflections without a filter. Add polariser (rotate to reduce glare) Take shot and compare 39
Exercise 3 If dry go outside and try a sunset shot using a ND grad of some sort Take shot with and without filter shot at 1/30th of a second, the one on the right, shot at 30 seconds with a 10 stop ND filter on. https://www.theschoolofphotography.com/freebies/nd-filters-in-depth-guide-for-beginners 40
Exercise 4 Try shooting through a wine glass or a coloured bottle be creative with homemade filters! 41
Challenge A filtered shot with either a bought or homemade filter, indoors or out. NO MANIPULATION AT ALL! Not even cropping! NO IN CAMERA EFFECTS! Bring with and without filter images (a pair) 42