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This basic 35mm camera is shown with a standard lens and a UV filter.Basic filters such as UV (ultraviolet) and "haze" filters give a little clarity to the image, but are used primarily to cover the lens to avoid scratches. Pros don't usually recap their lenses between every shot, so they keep the filter on the camera all the time. -
This color photo has a deep yellow photo to warm it and give it a slightly sunset-like appearance.Past the basics, there are filters to "warm" or "cool" the image, add contrast or do a variety of other things, including adding special effects such as prism colors.
"Warming" an image means adding a "warmer" color such as light orange or red. "Cooling" means adding a "colder" color such as blue or green. These can be used on both black and white and color photos. In black and white, colored filters will tend to give more or less contrast. Using a dark red filter with black and white images, for example, will give very dramatic effects. A blue sky will become very dark. White areas will be sharply white. - Other filters include polarizing glass that can enhance contrast and reduce flare. Diffusion filters can give a soft focus effect to photos. There also are star and rainbow effects filters that can add different dimensions to photos.
- On a 35mm single-lens reflex camera or the equivalent digital camera, the lenses have threads for camera filters. The filters also have threads, so they can be used in combination. You can, for example, add a red filter over the UV filter.
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This image is tinted by a deep red filter.Darker colored filters will change the exposure by decreasing the light coming into the lens. Auto exposure will compensate for this, but if you shoot manually, be aware of the difference. - Since most of these effects now can be done in Photoshop, filters are not as popular as they once were. They still have a valid place in photography however, especially for those who like traditional photography and those who like to experiment with images.
Comments
imagery said
on 2/10/2009 Filters were also used to balance film for light conditions. Correct indoor film for outdoor light, etc. Polarizing filters don't actually enhance contrast, they bend the light and really only impact blues and water and glass reflections.