I recently got a red lens filter because I've read how colored filters have interesting effects on B&W shots. I went out and took a few shots to see what would happen and this is one that I thought turned out pretty interesting.
I'm interested in hearing what others have to say. Thanks!
It looks fairly flat, not much contrast there. Was there any red in the original image? Normally using the channel mixer to get b&w instead of just a straight desat usually helps too.
I agree that it is quite flat, the result is not all that pleasing to me. It seems to me that the red filter is just going to greatly reduce the response of the blue and green channels, leaving a very red image. Since the red channel has the most noise on virtually all cams, this is not really a good thing!
I much prefer to use the channel mixer to get B+W images.
You probably got as nearly much out of it as you can. After all, via that filter, there is only so much visual data left.
I'll have to take the same shot with no filter and make all the adjustments in PS and see what happens. The red filter was included in a group of filters I bought for $10 off Ebay, so no big deal if I don't use it. Something to mess around with though. :-)
I just purchase a $8.00 Warming Filter Tiffen 812 myself. It's suppose to be the next filter to buy after the Circular Polariser and the Neutral Density.
I just purchase a $8.00 Warming Filter Tiffen 812 myself. It's suppose to be the next filter to buy after the Circular Polariser and the Neutral Density.
Cool thing on PS CS...has the photo filter as an adjustment now, so legal, instead of as a layer. Has warming, cooling, and any color ya like. Works well also.
I have not had good luck with red filters in digital photography. If your camera has a b/w mode, I would suggest using that mode while the red filter is applied. Red filters are used primarily in b/w photography to increase the contrast in the image. As you can see by your example, it has not had that effect on your photo.
You can do much the same thing as the red filter does in PS with the full color image by turning down the other color channels.
You may be right, but I don't believe this is true. Desaturating any color set in a given digital image does not affect the contrast of the image. I have been unable to duplicate the film red filter effect (b/w film) on digital. I have tried a lot of different things.
I have not had good luck with red filters in digital photography. If your camera has a b/w mode, I would suggest using that mode while the red filter is applied. Red filters are used primarily in b/w photography to increase the contrast in the image. As you can see by your example, it has not had that effect on your photo.
This works prety much the same in IR. The black and white mode vs color with IR filter can look different. Just from the little bit I have done
I have not had good luck with red filters in digital photography. If your camera has a b/w mode, I would suggest using that mode while the red filter is applied. Red filters are used primarily in b/w photography to increase the contrast in the image. As you can see by your example, it has not had that effect on your photo.
This works prety much the same in IR. The black and white mode vs color with IR filter can look different. Just from the little bit I have done
I have had decent luck with IR. It just required a little extra post processing with the images from my Sony...
I'll have to try this again in B&W mode, like you suggested, Setz. I'm also going to look into an IR filter as well. I like the effect that you showed.
I desaturated first, adjusted the contrast, etc. then used a CS red warming filter. I'm not sure of the results you were looking for. I've not been able to view this site in a while. Hoping to be able to learn from all of you on a regular basis!null
From what I can tell, a red filter is most often used to accentuate contrast in the sky, between clouds and blue sky.
It would seem in the example you showed, that the red filter just served to remove any contrast between the tree and house/ barn giving you a really flat shot - probably due to the similarities in the other colours in the grey barn and grey tree after filtering.
You can get a roughly similar effect to the various filters by adjusting the mix of red, green and blue while using the channel mixer in monochromatic mode - I've been able to effectively get the same results using filters and channel mixer with custom white balance in camera that I can get using film. It has meant that other than GND and polarising filters, I haven't bothered carrying any other filters with my digital camera - you plain don't need them.
I desaturated first, adjusted the contrast, etc. then used a CS red warming filter. I'm not sure of the results you were looking for. I've not been able to view this site in a while. Hoping to be able to learn from all of you on a regular basis!null
I like the results you got there, Elaine. I guess I need to upgrade from PS6 to CS so I can play with the new filters.
Gordon - I'll work on doing all the adjustments in PS and see what happens. I would much rather use PS than have to carry around filters. I'm still learning what all I can do with PS.
Gordon, I believe that if you get a roll of b/w film and shoot a photo with a red filter installed, you won't be able to duplicate it with a digital camera with or without a red filter.
The "Black & White" photoshop filter from SilverOxide claims to accurately convert images to B&W.
Different B&W films respond to color in slightly different ways, so that each color translates to different tonalities between films. That is why the tonality of B&W images is slightly different from film type to film type. We have captured these responses.
Also, The Imaging Factory's Convert To B&W Pro also offers high-end B&W conversion.
Conventional B&W photography is an artform. An artform that needn't be lost going digital. Have you ever used color filters to enhance or dampen certain color area's? Did you ever seek out your film meticulously in order to get the result just right? This tool allows you to do exactly that with digital images, all within your favourite image editing application.
A wide variety of B&W conversion methods (including some done with Imaging Factory's plug-in) are availalbe here.
From what I can tell, a red filter is most often used to accentuate contrast in the sky, between clouds and blue sky.
It would seem in the example you showed, that the red filter just served to remove any contrast between the tree and house/ barn giving you a really flat shot - probably due to the similarities in the other colours in the grey barn and grey tree after filtering.
You can get a roughly similar effect to the various filters by adjusting the mix of red, green and blue while using the channel mixer in monochromatic mode - I've been able to effectively get the same results using filters and channel mixer with custom white balance in camera that I can get using film. It has meant that other than GND and polarising filters, I haven't bothered carrying any other filters with my digital camera - you plain don't need them.
I agree, you can replicate the effect of most physical filters in software. I don't believe that the "it isn't the same as using B&W film" can be used, no it isn't the same but then this is a digital application not a film one.
I have read interviews with respected photographers who now shoot exclusively on colour film and convert to B&W via software - the reason, because, they claim, there are negligible differences if done well.
Gordon, I believe that if you get a roll of b/w film and shoot a photo with a red filter installed, you won't be able to duplicate it with a digital camera with or without a red filter.
Ah, yes, duplicating the effect of red filter used on a sunny day with b/w film. I have been trying to do this for a while (duplicating the effect digitally), I get "aproximations" but not the true effect. If anyone knows how to do this digitally, I'd be most grateful for the sharing.
