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DAY 181 | PHOTOGRAPHY 101 |
Filters
SPECIAL EFFECTS FOR UNDER $20
Filters are thin pieces of glass with a metal or plastic rim that screw onto the front of your lens. Your lens should have a designation printed on it in millimeters that indicates the size of filter needed.
The most common usage of filters is as a protective covering for the lens. An ultraviolet (UV) filter is used for this purpose.
Other filters are used to change the quality of light that reaches the film or digital sensor. Filters block some of the light waves entering the camera and most often will affect the lightness or darkness of an image, so some exposure adjustment will be necessary.
A variety of colored filters.
Colored filters are most often employed when using black and white film and keep certain colored light rays from entering the lens, thereby affecting the balance of colors in the film. Objects that are of a certain color will appear darker or lighter in response.
A star filter causes rays to appear to emit from any light source, like the sun or a lamp. Another popular one is a polarizing filter, which will darken blue skies and remove reflections from glass or water.
With the introduction of digital photography, filters are less commonly used. Special effects produced by filters are now easily created with photo-editing software, such as Photoshop. —CWN
FUN FACT
For an inexpensive way to experiment with macrophotography, purchase a set of close-up macrofilters.