Our assignment this week is to take black and white photography with filters. Since I have no desire to be a professional photographer, I trusted the very nice man at Southeastern Camera in Carrboro to help me choose which ONE filter to buy. He suggested the same color my instructor mentioned repeatedly. I bought a used Orange filter and case for only $15 (the prices online vary from $20-$75 depending on the size and brand).
Okay so using filters is super easy! I just hold it over the lens and shoot. The only trick is that the camera needs to have a black & white mode. If it doesn't have a B&W mode the picture just comes out the color of the filter you are using. I took one picture in color on accident thinking I had changed my camera setting already. I figured it would be a good visual for what I am talking about so I kept it. I guess there are some times when this isn't a bad thing, but for most cases, not so cool!
However, when you are in B&W mode it makes a huge difference and helps my pictures look awesome! What the filter does is very simple (at least in my mind). With a filter, complementary colors (opposites on the color wheel) are darkened while analogous color (together on the color wheel) are lightened. Black and white aren't changed. I bought an orange filter so the blue sky and greenery would show up better in my pictures. I wish I could pull these up full screen for you, but I can definitely see the difference in the before and after pictures!
Look at all the clouds that show up in the image when the filter gets put over the lens! I love it!
Okay so using filters is super easy! I just hold it over the lens and shoot. The only trick is that the camera needs to have a black & white mode. If it doesn't have a B&W mode the picture just comes out the color of the filter you are using. I took one picture in color on accident thinking I had changed my camera setting already. I figured it would be a good visual for what I am talking about so I kept it. I guess there are some times when this isn't a bad thing, but for most cases, not so cool! 
However, when you are in B&W mode it makes a huge difference and helps my pictures look awesome! What the filter does is very simple (at least in my mind). With a filter, complementary colors (opposites on the color wheel) are darkened while analogous color (together on the color wheel) are lightened. Black and white aren't changed. I bought an orange filter so the blue sky and greenery would show up better in my pictures. I wish I could pull these up full screen for you, but I can definitely see the difference in the before and after pictures!
4 comments:
very cool. if you want to shoot in color, you can use a polarizing filter. Or, you can use the lens from a pair of sunglasses for a similar effect.
Jill, these look so cool! I can't make the photos bigger on my screen, but I can tell the difference just the way they are. It really adds more contrast to have a filter. I learn something new every day... thanks!
way cool! i actually LOVE the one with the color mode still on too!
J, you inspire me!!
Post a Comment