Camera Filters - Why Use Them?

Camera filters are not just for use with film cameras. Digital cameras can also take advantage of the many filters available. It is true that digital imaging software gives you the opportunity to be creative during post processing, allowing for colour enhancements and special effects, but a lot of fun can be had creating these effects while shooting the picture in real time. Filters are designed to attach to the front of the camera lens either by a threaded collar or bayonet-type mounting. Light that enters through the filter-covered lens is altered, creating colour changes or special effects. Filters can also affect an images contrast and sharpness.

With so many filters available it will be easier if we categorise them and look at them separately. Some filters require you to adjust your camera's exposure because they absorb available light. If your camera and lens work with through the lens metering, no exposure correction will be needed. Check the manufacturers specifications that come with the filter.

Lens Protection Filters - Also known as UV or skylight filters, they are colorless and do not affect the light intensity passing through the lens. This filter cuts down on the effect of ultra violet light that shows up as a bluish cast commonly found in landscape photography. More importantly, this filters’ purpose is to protect the lens from scratches and anything that may come in contact with the lens and do it harm.

Polarizing Filters - Polarizing filters, which are colorless, enhance outdoor color saturation and contrast of the image. Blue skies become deeper without affecting the overall color of the image. Polarized filters also eliminate surface reflections found in windows and water. Some cameras have internal surfaces that polarize light. Using a standard linear filter will cause the light to be absorbed even more. A Circular Polarizer Filter has a “retarder” added on the side that faces the camera that helps to eliminate this problem. Auto focus cameras require the use of a circular polarizing filter rather than a linear filter. Check the camera instruction book for specifics.

Colour Correcting Filters - Colour correcting filters are used to add a colour cast to a scene or to tweak the colors a bit. Using a yellow filter will add warmth to the image and using a blue filter will cool the colours down a bit.

Light Reduction Filters - These are also known as Neutral Density (ND) filters and are used to cut down on the amount of light coming through the lens. Useful when you want to shoot at a slower shutter speed in bright light.

Enhancing Filters - Enhancing filters are used to “kick up the colors a notch” by producing deeper more saturated reds, browns and oranges without effecting the cooler tones of blue or green. Fall foliage becomes intensified, as will sunsets and red fire trucks. Faded colors take on a bolder tone as well.

Special Effect Filters - These filters can be fun. There are hundreds to choose from that will diffuse, diffract or alter light. Strong diffusion filters blur the image creating a dream-like effect. Fog filters cause lights to glow creating a “halo” effect, while star filters have thin lines etched into the flat optical surface. When light passes through the filter, points of light streak out from the filter thus creating a star. These filters are just a few of the many that are available. Tiffen has a wonderful selection to choose from.
Half the fun of photography is the creative experimenting you can do, so come on, give filters a try today.

By Georgiana Marshen

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