Graduated
Filters
by J. Ramón Palacios tell
a friend about this article
|
COLOR
GRADUATED FILTERS
The
French photographer Jean Coquin, invented the concept
of
creative filter photography, meaning
"creating colors and effects through filtering."
.
When
not overdone, the effect could be pleasing and not unrealistic.
| Images
shown here were made with a F100 with 17-35mm f/2.8D
ED IF AF-S zoom Nikkor from a tripod, on Kodak Ektachrome
E100VS film. This
was my first shot at this particular sunrise, with
no filter, out of excitement; not preparing for this
article.
Evidently
impossible to grab well without graduated density
filters. |
|
|
| At
right, the combination of a 2 and 3 f/stops neutral
density filters plus a blue color graduated one.
I
ran out of filters. The scene needed a fourth one
at a diagonal, to see the foreground before the sun
broke out above the horizon. Luckily later, with more
light, it was possible as shown in the previous page
and with just two filters. |
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These
filters can be handheld in front of the lens of course in
case you run out of slots in the slide-in holder.
I don't particularly like the use of colored filters but
many apparently do. Singh-Ray is the first brand of choice
of professionals. Hitech is the second, less expensive.
Cokin is the least expensive. All have a vast line of color
and effects filters.
What
do I need?
If
you choose to explore the use of these filters, this
is what you need:
- Lens
adapter (of the diameter needed to screw into the front
of your lens)
- Filter
holder (one slot or wide-angle to prevent vignetting
on WA lenses)
- Graduated
neutral density and/or colored filter(s)
If you can only have one filter
Get
the 0.6 / 2 stops ND Grad as it is the most frequently
used, except
for the extreme sunrise/sunset conditions shown here, where
you may need at least another one, either the 0.9 or even
the 1.2.
If
you find yourself using most of the time a warming filter,
you may be interested in getting the combined warming-neutral
density ones.
-
| NEUTRAL
DENSITY FACTORS |
ND |
f/stops |
| 0.3 |
1 |
| 0.6 |
2 |
| 0.9 |
3 |
| 1.2 |
4 |
Can
all of this be done in Adobe Photoshop®?
Yes, but most unlikely by us mortals since it requires
a high skill
level which must include a very good understanding of layers,
and some time to master it. Color conversion filters like
the
warming
81A and 81B are indeed relatively easy to simulate,
but to equate the effect of a ND grad may require more
than
wizardry, although I've seen it done fast and most effectively
by Dave
Black, Nikon Mentor and Legend Behind the Lens featured
in the Nikonians Podcast #2.
In
film and maybe more so in slide film, if any portion
of the
scene is not well recorded it would need to be invented,
so use graduated density filters for better results.
The
theme of neutral density and color graduated filters
is vast, we may expand this section later with the appropriate
examples, explaining the use of the very nice Daryl
Benson's Reverse Neutral Density Graduated filter.
In
the meantime, whatever you choose ...
Have
a great time 
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