Filters

[Eric DeWitt]

I can’t emphasize enough what kurt just said about shooting with good light.

[John Bennett]

I dunno.
I think it goes without saying that good light makes a huge difference. However as people that shoot outdoor lifestyles we usually don’t have much choice and its upon us to shoot in whatever the conditions are.

if you look at those pictures I posted above not one of them except perhaps the last with the drift boat was taken in good light. All of them in fact were taken between 11am and 4pm to boot.

would better light have improved them or opened more doors? Im willing to bet on it, but then again I had to make the best of what mother nature gave me.

Good light?

or knowing how to use various to tools available to us to make the best out of whats there. Good light, or not. And yes there are 2 filters used in that and a flash

My point here is you can have the sweetest light ever recorded and the image could be ruined without filters if theres a big difference beteen foreground/sky or even left/right. or if not ruined/near impossible the right filters will enable you to improve on it.

[anonymous]

Wow Jay and John.

[John Bennett]

Lol thanks Dave.

You’ll get there (if not now) and when you do, you realise theres still a ton of room for improvement.

One of the things I love about photography, you could spend a lifetime at it and never get to a point where you can’t improve. My “favorites” at this point are likely shots

[J A Y M O R R]

Thanks Dave.

[Eric DeWitt]

No John, actually, i don’t think it goes without saying that good light makes a huge difference.

[John Bennett]

And Adam uses filters in all his stuff good light or not. And how would many/most of his shots turn out if he didn’t use them. So thank you for helping to make my point, agreeing with me, even while flinging a barb or two 🙂 Thats quite an accomplishment.

Does Adam use filters all the time.
That would be default mean to Adam they are indespensible Yes?

I didn’t dispute the importance of light I am saying that filters are an important tool, not to be overlooked or downplayed  even when shooting in good light .

And if you go back to Johns post, he specifically asked about *filters* and how they might improve the shots. Not how do I improve my photos? How will *filters* improve my photos. So you tell me, a) whos actually trying to answer his question and b) how do think Adam would have replied.

I think he might have said something to the effect of
I dunno, even in good light

[Eric DeWitt]

Umm.. Ok, John, whatever you say, bud.

[J A Y M O R R]

Sigh….

[John Bennett]

Eric  there was no need to get snarky, none at all. I replied in kind
/shrug

The thread is entitled filters, hes asked about filters.
The fact is most of us simply enjoy, love photography. Virtually everyone here  enjoy spending time in the outdoors doing various activities. When I’m out out say fishing, or camping or for an afternoon hike it doesn’t matter what the light conditions are, Im going to want to home with images.

I’ll ask you striaght up, if you have plans to go fishing, camping this weekend and the weather turns  ar you trashing your plans or leaving your camera at home because the lights going to less than great? if you answer yes….my appologies…if you answer no then think about it.As I said, no need, none at all to get snarky.

The other thing is most “novices” or enthusiest ..while understanding light is a key part to improving ( note I didnt take exception), they are looking for help in general…so if he goes for a fall hike and wants to come home with images and would like them to be better.
Should he stay home if the lights less than great. The a difference between not taking exception to the suggestion better light and…….

Filters are a “tool”, an accessory. The be all, end all..no. You can do quite well without. You can do quite well without a tripod as well if you choose. They can/will improve most outdoor/landscape photography regardless of the light. Bottom line. And for me anyways Id leave my tripod at home before I leave my filters. In fact I often do

As i originally said even in good light filters will make a big difference and can be the difference between a lanscape with a blown sky (delete) and a keeper…if not a wall hanger 😉

am i wrong?

[Zach Matthews]

I appreciate everyone’s great feedback about filters and their use. I have learned a lot.

BTW, most of my shots are taken when something happens, like someone lands a big trout and I take a shot. I can’t control the lighting. At the same time, I do recognize now that if I want to take landscape shots it is best to do it when there is better lighting.

Thanks! I will continue to play and hopefully get a couple of filters under the Christmas tree.

[kurt budliger]

“…or leaving your camera at home because the lights going to less than great?”

[John Bennett]

Kurt we might in fact leave the camera at home, in truth on rare occassions I do. But that is more due to simply not wanting or needing images.

Im going to try this one last time, maybe ive worded it poorly.God knows I do that enough.

If this were a photography based “site” where everyone is a “photographer” and people are focused on “photography” those things i think have more “weight” if you will. Again Im not disputing the importance of light its the fundamental aspect to photography.

I was/am taking the approach that people here when asking for some help are “outdoors” people. We do things regardless of the light/weather and we want to improve the images we bring home whether they are in good/bad light, rain or shine. quick exaple the shots were in rain and desatured…”how” can I improve them next time..To me Id say lower iso as far as possible and use a cp because there will be a next time given what we all enjoy…and hence my comment “it goes without saying”.

. True yes, if you want your “best” images you should be shootig during the golden hours. But if johns son catches a great Brown at 1pm …
be that as it may.
Most here try to help people along, I know I comment as often as possible, put up shots for illustrative purposes. its the only time I post photos..cant recall the last time I put up pics for “props”.
Been doing it for years, countless threads, countless people…And after saying something that wasn’t disagreeing or disrepecting the opions expressed prior I really didn’t expect

No John, maybe you do, yada,yada. as though my opinion counted for squat…Im not going to appreciate it and willl have something to say.

on the topic of pods/filters. Both at different times will have more impact. Now this applies to me specificallly as a shooter (im more photojournalism recall). Ive had two ADs and my Stock Agency tell me ( I can copy the emails sent to all contributors).

We are no longer accepting under or over exposed skies.

In other words blow your “exposure” and it doesn’t matter what the subject or how good. I have “photo calls and wish list for 2010 through 2011” looking for bad light, bad weather images and I sell quite a few. Why?

because  always bring my cameera with me and well some leave it home 😉 just kidding but there is some truth in that. Editors are itching for picks no one else shoots. They have thousamds of grips/grins, nice light shots of guys casting……….

for an article on deer hunting swamps in bad weather (shot was taken in the rain).aka crap light 🙂

mid day, crap light

this shot Im willing to bet sells one day,probably in a safety article for back lakes and what to do when bad storm rolls in

its what “we” do..we dont stay in bed when conditions arent ideal.

if the article is casting in a strong head wind in nasty conditions (exageration) ….filters will do waaaay more for me, than pods.
Anyways you get the idea.but thats “me” i recognise that, said that.

[Mike Anderson]

I FINALLY got to play around with my 6 stop B&W and a cheapo GND.

[dave cornue]

Is it possible to use a polarizing filter on a PNS like a Canon G12?
I’m guessing “no” since you can’t see when you have it rotated to maximize polarization.  I would guess that requires a DSLR – right?

Thinking about a new camera and trying to decide whether to go with a DSLR or not.

Best Fishes,
Dave

[Mike Anderson]

Yes there is a way to use a Cir Pol on a G12. http://www.lensmateonline.com/store/G11partB.php

I picked up a G10 for my Mother last week. That’s an impressive little package.

[dave cornue]

Thanks Mike.

[p. taylor]

Thanks Mike.  But, the G12 is not a through the lens viewing beast is it?  So, how can you see if the CP is rotated to the maximum polarization position???

trial and error. large memory cards are cheap. take a shot and take a look. don’t like what you see change the orientation and take another and so on and so on and so on until you get what you like. just hold the filter in front of the lens. hold it up against the lens as flat as you can.

just my thoughts.

[Michael Phillippe]

I just received notification yesterday that the Singh Ray Blue/Gold filters are again available:

http://www.singh-ray.com/goldnbluespecial.htm

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