 Bryan K. Alldredge |
How to filter for those amazing colors I worked for a local nature photographer in his gallery (cashier, nothing important) and he always told people he did not touch up the photographs, which are truthfully breathtaking. Later he did admit that while he does not alter the images, he does use filters to get those amazing blue skies, the wet green forests and the color soaked barn infront of the autumn forest-type pictures. I have a nice Pentax 35 mm and want to know what filters I can use to help nudge my pictures toward greatness.
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John A. Lind |
Bryan, If you haven't done so already, ask what film he's using! I'd bet it's Fuji Velvia, a professional slide film, although he could be using something else (Fuji Provia 100F, or possibly Kodachrome 64). If it's Velvia, ask what speed he's shooting it at. Although it's rated ISO 50, many users shoot it at EI 40 (1/3 stop more exposure) to make the trannies slightly thinner and cut back a little on the saturation. Then ask about his print materials and the processes he uses. If these are display prints from color slide film, my first guess would be Ilford's Ilfochrome, an ultra-high gloss reversal paper made specifically for direct printing slides. Film and print materials can make more difference in the outcome than lens filters will. Then discuss the filters with him. The blue sky is often done with a polarizer, but it must be used under the proper conditions. Sky color can also be darkened using a neutral density graduated filter (abbreviated ND Grad). Work first with film and print materials to understand what you will get from them under various conditions without filtering, and then start gradually using them. When you do start, shoot some frames without them and then shoot some with them. You want to understand what they will do and how to mentally "visualize" how they will affect your photographs. Finally there's lighting, and this is likely more important than all of the above. A photograph is **only** a recording of light. Look at his photographs and reverse engineer the time of day, weather conditions (bright sun, hazy sun, overcast, etc.) and where the sun is in relationship to him and the subject material. There's only so much you can do with filters! They can only modify what is already there. You *must* have the basic lighting conditions to start with. -- John
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Bryan K. Alldredge |
Great advice, I was looking at the stick when I should have been looking at the hand. Thanks a million!
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