Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Camera
- Red, Blue and Green Camera Filters
- Monochrome Film for Conventional Cameras
Step1
Color Image
This is a color image of a still life that we will use to illustrate how to use color filters. There are a number of memory colors that you can reference to show you the impact of the filter on the color. A memory color is one that is simple to recall in your mind. The apples are red. The leaves are green. The flower centers are yellowish and the single rose is red. As you look through the examples, keep these colors in mind.
Step2
Monochrome Image
This is the same scene shot in black and white. These images were shot on a digital camera with mixed ambient light and some flash. The same principles apply in black and white film photography. Before the digital age, all printed color pictures were manufactured using black and white color separation photography. Color pictures would be imaged onto separate films, each through a different filter to make yellow, magenta and cyan films. This is known as color separation imaging. Each film would be used to make a separate printing plate that would then be run on a four-color printing press
Step3
Red Filter
A color filter used with monochrome film will lighten colors similar to the filter by absorbing the light. This image was shot through a red filter. Notice that the rose and apples are much lighter. This is due to the red filter absorbing the red light and not allowing as much red light to strike the sensor or film.
Step4
Green Filter
A filter can also be used to darken a complimentary color. This shot was taken through a green filter. The complimentary color to green is magenta. Notice how using this filter darkened the tone of the apple and red rose. Both of these colors have a high amount of magenta.
Step5
Yellow Filter
This exposure was taken through a yellow filter. The complimentary to yellow is blue and Ansel Adams used to use yellow filters a lot to darken skies. There is no real blue color in this picture, but notice the yellow centers of the flower are much lighter in tone.
* Remember: the use of all filters is to be able to correct or control the light. Filters help to control the lighting of a scene during image capture. The more elements you deal with during shooting, the less you will have to do during post production to perfect your image.
Comments
bizewriter said
on 5/15/2008 Good information and presentation!