First time shooting w/filters. I see no difference. What gives?

[Hjortsberg]

Camera: M3
Film: Trix 400
Lens: Sumericron 50mm
Filters: Leica yellow filter and Leica orange filter (39mm)

I'd take a photo. Then put on a filter (yellow first) then take the same photo with the same exposure then another photo opening up 1/2 stop, then 1 stop, then 11/2 stops then 2 stops.

Repeat again but with orange filter.

just got back the photos and I can't tell any difference. I'm new to photography, but I'm I stupid, too.

 

[Steve M.]

I wonder if your lab's machine "auto corrected" the shots?

One other thing, filters only work when you have lots of light. Otherwise, you just lose a stop for nothing.

 

[haempe]

What was your test subject?

 

[newspaperguy]

I would think Steve is right about the processing automatically correcting your shots.

Take a look at the negs...

if there were clouds in the scene, you should see a big difference - especially with the orange.

 

[degruyl]

What you should see, if you are looking for it, is either an inversion in the sky (the blue sky looks dark, clouds remain light) or a loss of shadow detail.

This is because yellow blocks blue light. Blue light is the majority of light which is present in both the skylight and in open shade because it scatters better than less energetic light. Without this atmospheric scattering, the sky would look like the night sky even during daylight, if you weren't looking directly at the sun.

What you actually see in the photographs in your hands depends in large part on the source of the light and the subject.

 

[Jamie123]

The effect of the filter really depends on the colors in the scene you're photographing.

 

[Graham Line]

Best way to see the difference would be a proof sheet, with all the frames lined up side-by-side, if you can do one either wet-darkroom, or on a flatbed scanner. Seeing all the frames with the same exposure should show the difference.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

What film did you shoot? When you say, "Just got back the photos" what was the processing? Mini-lab? Prints? Scans?

My quick guess: You shot color film, processed in a mini-lab, and your prints or scans were automatically or manually adjusted to fix the color for you. Am I guessing right?

Here's where to use and see the effect: On a good blue sky day with puffy clouds, shoot comparisons on B&W film (400CN would be fine). You should see a real difference in the contrast in the sky.

 

[Hjortsberg]

I wonder if your lab's machine "auto corrected" the shots?

No the lab is pretty good about that. I always specify "no corrections." I've done exposure tests before and had "no corrections" and they do it.

 

[Hjortsberg]

What was your test subject?

Graveyard with grass, trees, mountain and sky.

 

[Hjortsberg]

I

if there were clouds in the scene, you should see a big difference - especially with the orange.

Well, there wasn't that much cloud action. Maybe none at all. Typical southern california no cloud day

 

[gns]

I wonder if your lab's machine "auto corrected" the shots?

A filter changes the relative values of different colors in the exposure. How could the lab "Correct" for that?

 

[Hjortsberg]

I've just sent the negs off to a wet darkroom I use and they are going to do a one-to-one contact sheet for me. perhaps this will help

 

[t.s.k.]

Barring subject matter and light conditions...
There are a couple of color correction filters that can pass for a very pale orange.
I'm assuming your is a true contrast orange filter?
Light yellow has a very very subtle effect. Med yellow a bit more.

Personally, I pass on yellow and go straight to orange if needed.

 

[DanOnRoute66]

What film did you shoot? When you say, "Just got back the photos" what was the processing? Mini-lab? Prints? Scans?

My quick guess: You shot color film, processed in a mini-lab, and your prints or scans were automatically or manually adjusted to fix the color for you. Am I guessing right?

Here's where to use and see the effect: On a good blue sky day with puffy clouds, shoot comparisons on B&W film (400CN would be fine). You should see a real difference in the contrast in the sky.

Posting says Tri-X shot at 400.

 

[haempe]

Be patient.
Read and understand, what they can and how they work.
Choose your subject after that.

If I remember correctly, my first trials with B/W filters were also disappointing.

 

[Pablito]

Lab cannot "auto correct" as stated in post #12

You won't see the difference, at least not obviously, if your sky was not blue. Overcast, white-grey day and the filter will not do much to the sky.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Filters lighten their own colour and darken their complementaries (yellow/blue, red/cyan, green/magenta). Look at blue skies (darker), Caucasian skin (lighter), red brick (lighter).

Cheers,

R.

 

[Hjortsberg]

Barring subject matter and light conditions...
There are a couple of color correction filters that can pass for a very pale orange.
I'm assuming your is a true contrast orange filter?
Light yellow has a very very subtle effect. Med yellow a bit more.

Personally, I pass on yellow and go straight to orange if needed.

yeah yellow didn't seem to do much at all. How about a green filter? what would that do?

 

[ssmc]

Sounds weird. This is something like what you ought to be seeing:

http://www.pbase.com/smcleod965/filter_test

This was a comparison between two different orange filters. Yellow will be a bit more subtle but should still be clearly visible.

HTH,
Scott