Photographs are the footprints of time left for us to cherish for an eternity. With progression in time and advancement in technology, filters have been introduced to enhance the features. In Monochrome photography, especially, filters play quite a significant role. In each position on an image one can record and show a different amount of light, but not a different hue. It includes all forms of black-and-white photography, which produce images containing shades of neutral grey ranging from black to white and other hues such as sepia, cyan, or brown can also be used in monochrome photography. And filters offer quite a few options in black and white or monochrome photography with their own plus points. As some help to capture a better image while others can alter the mood of the view one is shooting.
We all can identify the employment of filters in colour photography, as it makes the scene appear warmer. However in monochrome or black and white photography changes are quite subtle. Even though in contemporary period, monochrome photography usually serves for more of an artistic purpose rather than to capture an accurate scene. They are making a big comeback in wedding photography.
Kevin Mullins says and we quote, “My rule of thumb, when it comes to my photographs is that if the image is about colour or colour, is a core feature, then it should remain in colour.
If a photograph is about emotion or human interaction, I tend to look at it from a Black and White Wedding Photography point of view.”
Photographs where colours lose their significance to the overwhelming emotions of love, respect, togetherness and new beginnings. Candid photographs during exchanging vows, or while mother-in law putting a heirloom necklace on a new bride. Capturing a tear eyed father or brother. Black and white photographs are definitely a got to choice among millennials for certain wedding pictures.
Thus monochrome is the new black. And filters are a must have knowledge for the same.
Keeping in mind that filters are a piece of glass or plastic that is put in front of your lens. Thus adding one more layer that the light must pass through. You may want to increase your exposure accordingly.
Here are a list of filters, one can use in black and white photography:-
- Skylight or Ultra Violet filters:- Skylight or Ultra Violet filters are used only for black and white film photography. This is due to digital cameras having inbuilt filters. The filters help reduce the hazing caused by the atmosphere and sun. Which in turn helps to keep the sharpness in the scene. By cutting down on the UltraViolet light, one has more contrast in the scene.
- Neutral Density filter:- These filters come in two types; Neutral Density and Graduated Neutral Density filters.A Neutral Density filter blocks the light in degrees of stops. With Lees Big Stopper, you can get up to ten stops of play, turning that 1/30th into 30 seconds. The graduated ND offers a varying degree of strength across the entire filter. They are darkest on one end and lightest on the other. It usually is used in landscape photography.
- Polarizing filters:- These filters reduce and remove glare and reflections from reflective surfaces. Especially in case of as encounter with windows or water,
- Infrared filters:- Infrared filters or IR filters block or reflect visible light. The result of these filters differs across color or black and white photography. With color photography, they turn green areas into pink. For black and white photography, the idea is similar, except you don’t see the color shift. Green colors, such as leaves, reflect a lot of visible light. This makes them lighter when using an Infrared filter.
However, landscapes differ from portrait photographs. Hence determining the colour of the filter is also a vital aspect. For black and white photography, the colour filters affect the scene. A red filter will lighten the reds, but darken the colors on the opposite side of the color spectrum like blues and greens.
Here is a short list of colour filters used in black and white photography.
- Red- Red filters lighten the reds and pinks found in your scene. They darken the greens and blues, as they are opposite colors on the color wheel, giving a moody tone to the photograph.
2. Orange- Orange filters add contrast and give depth to the image. In portraits, they reduce the blemishes and give a healthier look to the subject.
3. Green- Solid green color filters are useful for black and white photography. They filter out green wavelengths of color. This makes the foliage you capture lighter and more pleasing.
However remember that practice makes the man (including women) perfect. So keep clicking and discover your own signature in monochrome.
