Advanced Photography at Cardonald College - Glasgow 2002/2003

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Filters

Filters are used to enhance photographs. They correct colours, absorb haze, create special effects etc. and can be used at two stages, mainly during picture taking or some filters can be used during developing prints. The modern equivalent of filters are the digital effects that are found in all photo editing software packages. Filters come in a variety of formats. There are screw on types that can be fitted to different size lenses. Common sizes are 39, 40.5, 43, 46, 49, 52, 58, 62, 67, 72, 77, 82 mm. All modern lenses have thread on the inner rim to screw in these filters. One filter can be screwed on top of the other so multiple filters can be used simultaneously. A lens hood can also be fitted on the last filter.
Another system that is being sold by manufacturers like Cokin uses an adapter that screws on the lens. These adapters can than be used to fit a filter holder where square filters slide in.

Some common filters are:

• Skylight or UV filters, these absorb UV haze in landscape photography. As they are clear and have no other function they can be left in place as a protection for the lens.
• Polarizing filters are used to reduce reflections on water and to improve colour saturation in an image.
• Coloured filters like Red, Yellow, Orange and Green are mainly used during Black and White photography to enhance contrast and darkening skies.
• Neutral density filters are used to reduce the amount of light that reaches the film so a wider aperture and thus a smaller depth of field will be created.

Yellow Filter Polarizing Filter. UV/Skylight filter. Red Filter.

Two different sizes of Cokin Filter holders. On the left a 62mm holder and on the right a 72mm holder with a gradual G2 filter.

Chapters

• Home
• Equipment
• SLRs
• Other Formats [1] - [2]
• Lenses
• Filters
• Lighting
• Developing
• Printing
• Project [1] - [2]