yellow filter

back alley

back alley

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as a follow up to a poll i posted here a while back (about who uses what filter) and from reading some more lately, i have a question.
but first...most of the time when others talk about using a yellow (or orange or red) filter, the sky is almost always mentioned. a blue sky with white clouds will have dramatic contrast is what's normally said.

but what about street shooting where the sky is not often included in the pic?
if you are shooting mostly urban streets with people in the shot - do you use a yellow (or any) filter?

i'm thinking about stopping the use of filters completely when i do my normal shooting.

(i'm probably thinking this because i just bought 9 filters today on ebay)

joe
 
I only shoot colour, Joe. Wouldn't make much sense shooting through a coloured filter, right? :)
 
Well, it's always useful to keep in mind that shadows are usually illuminated only by the blue sky, and those yellow/orange/red filters will make them darker.

Of course other colored things will be affected... I recall Russ likes the effect of yellow filters on skin tones. Colorful signs, flowers, etc will be affected more strongly by your filter choice.

If the sky is overcast, then the sky and shadows would be unaffected. I have used an orange filter when shooting Tri-X at EI 1200 in a camera with a 1/500 top shutter speed... partly for its beneficial effect on blue sky but also to cut the light somewhat!
 
I remember using a yellow filter with Efke KB100 gave an illuminance and glow to leaves that I found rather attractive, and (but?) not nearly as pronounces as leaves shot in IR.
 
Joe,

Only way to find out is to try it with/without the yellow filter for the same settings. Be sure to be consistent, ie With Filter/Without Filter. Report the results back on this thread.
 
In addition to the sky, the filter will help differentiate and add contrast in all scenes. Seeing in color allows us to do this with our eyes, but on monochrome film, similarly toned objects of any color are captured as the same shade of grey. The use of the filter shifts the tones of these similar objects and will allow them to be captured differently, contrast. A yellow filter is said to produce a monochrome image most closely to what the eye sees.
 
During last year there was an article in 'Black and White Photography' magazine (UK mag) by the well known photo writer MIke Johnston in which he responded to enquiries about obtaining classic 'glowing' b/w prints for wall and exhibition use etc. His 'recipe' included using a yellow filter on an 'old' lens with classic film types slightly overexposed.,..this for all subject types.
 
I use a yellow filter all the time because I'm interested in maximizing the chances of getting the classic looking prints that Bob talks about above.

I think the gist of what Mike Johnston wrote in the paper magazine article is probably contained in the link below:

The Glow
 
Since I don't use a camera case, I keep a yellow filter on the camera as extra layer of protection and bring along a filter case, as quite often the filter needs be removed. Today is such a day, the sky is totally gray.

A user of vintage cameras, there is a love-hate relationship with filters, many of which are not coated. Even shooting with a well hooded lens, flare becomes an issue when shooting towards light sources.

I don't normally use a filter for indoor work, but I'd like to find a good quality light yellow-green filter to see how it effects skin tones.
 
Re: yellow filter

backalley photo said:
as a follow up to a poll i posted here a while back (about who uses what filter) and from reading some more lately, i have a question.
but first...most of the time when others talk about using a yellow (or orange or red) filter, the sky is almost always mentioned. a blue sky with white clouds will have dramatic contrast is what's normally said.

but what about street shooting where the sky is not often included in the pic?
if you are shooting mostly urban streets with people in the shot - do you use a yellow (or any) filter?

i'm thinking about stopping the use of filters completely when i do my normal shooting.

(i'm probably thinking this because i just bought 9 filters today on ebay)

joe
Click to expand...

Paleface

Slap the deep yellow (#15) filter on your rig and go shoot. The only time I pull mine off, is when I am desperate for speed. Better shadows, flesh tones, skies, etc. Also, the B/W chromogenic films, really benefit from it, as they are a bit lacking in contrast. With the standard Neopan 400 (non-C-41 process) I have gotten great results, due to it's higher contrast. (Neopan 400 image attached, no filter or manipulation of any type)

Russ
 
Brian Sweeney said:
Joe,

Only way to find out is to try it with/without the yellow filter for the same settings. Be sure to be consistent, ie With Filter/Without Filter. Report the results back on this thread.
Click to expand...

always the scientist!
i plan on doing something like that.
i have taken off the yellow filters from 2 lenses that i plan on using. the 35 and 100 are now nekkid. i have this bug about using no filters, not even uv for 'protection'.
i will see how my pics look, if there is a difference from what i am used to.
no side by side comparos though, doesn't fit my lazy style.

anyone else ever get a bug like this and just have to try something/change something, based on feeling more than thought?

joe
 
i have this bug about using no filters, not even uv for 'protection'.
Funny I have the opposite bug. Absolutely must have a filter of some kind on the front of every lens. One advantage: At some point this year I'm going to sell a Tokina 80-200 zoom lens. It is 15 years old and the front element on that thing is absolutely pristine! :)
 
backalley photo said:

i have taken off the yellow filters from 2 lenses that i plan on using. the 35 and 100 are now nekkid. i have this bug about using no filters, not even uv for 'protection'.
i will see how my pics look, if there is a difference from what i am used to.
no side by side comparos though, doesn't fit my lazy style.

anyone else ever get a bug like this and just have to try something/change something, based on feeling more than thought?

joe
Click to expand...

Well, I don't use any filters on my Leica glass - at least I haven't done so far. I might try a yellow filter, though. But, I do have UV filters on all my other lenses (Nikons, etc...).
On Leicas, I don't.
It was a decision similar to yours - just a gut feeling.
I'm not concerned about damage, since I don't shoot on beaches, near the sea, etc., and most of my lenses were not purchased in "pristine" condition, to say the least ;)
Slapping a cheapo filter in front of a Summicron doesn't make much sense, anyway, does it?

OTOH, I *do* use hoods whenever I can, even makeshift and DIY ones, if I don't have anything else.

When not in use (e.g. in the bag), a lens cap goes on the lens, to protect it.

If you want more ideas about filters and their (non) use, check out R. Monaghans Medium format megasite - particularly here: http://medfmt.8k.com/bronfilters.html#brick

Denis
 
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Interesting article Denis but it won't stop me using my filters! :) I can hardly remember ever seeing flare - I guess I don't shoot into the sun too much. I buy decent quality filters - either B+W or Hoya - and I think it does make a difference. A beautiful 58mm red B+W MRC F-Pro arrived yesterday from eBay for my 21mm. Can't wait to try it! :)
 
This is a great thread. I don't use ANY filters. I had a UV filter on one of my lenses and the darn reflections at night killed my shots. No more for me.

I believe in the use of filters, I just bracket my shots and try my best in printing to get the tonal range that suits me.

Yes, I know filters help, but I prefer the extra challenge. :)
 
I've heard a lot of B&W photographers say they like a yellow-green filter for general shooting. Makes skin tones and vegetation look better, they say. Anyone use one of these? I often use a yellow filter when I'm shooting.

Gene
 
Hi,
I'm one of those who use a yellow-green most of the time, and it does indeed make vegetation look better than 'only' yellow - trees & bushes just look slightly more plastic, better differentiated. As for the rest (sky, buildings) the results are rather similar to a yellow filter.

Roman
 
digitalox said:
Wealth of info there on MF Denis, thanks, I'm bookmarking that
Click to expand...

To be honest, I must have spent months there, reading almost everything on that site :)

The site is really awesome, and is an absolute must for any photo-geek, regardless of the type of camera he uses :D

I've learned quite a lot there, and what interested me the most were various DIY solutions...

Anyway, here is the link again:
http://medfmt.8k.com

Denis
 
Re: yellow filter

When I started out in "serious" photography 4 years ago, I used to experiment w/all the colored B&W filters all the time. Now I use them sparingly, i.e., when I need a specific effect or as quasi "ND" filters when I want to use larger apertures w/a camera that's already loaded w/high & higher speed film.

If I had to choose a default filter, it would be a 2x filter factor (1-stop) yellow-green or light green (depends on the filter maker's nomenclature). As others have posted, I think the yellow-green/light green does the best job of increasing separation of clouds against a blue sky, while also maintaining more realistic skin tones & lightening foliage a bit.

However, there are a few reasons why I've stopped using filters as much: (1) I don't do a lot of landscape photography, so don't need the dark orange or red filters for the dramatic Ansel Adams look; (2) modern B&W emulsions are not as sensitive to blue light (or insensitive to red, whichever it is) as they were in the "classic" Capa/Cartier-Bresson/Frank era, so even without filters, there's usually enough separation of clouds from the sky; & (3) I do a lot of street shooting, where the typical yellow & green filters darken shadow areas too much for my taste.

I do use B+W MRC UV filters more often now, but that's only because I have more valuable lenses & want to protect their resale value, not because I think a few scratches, etc. actually cause significant optical damage.

backalley photo said:
as a follow up to a poll i posted here a while back (about who uses what filter) and from reading some more lately, i have a question.
but first...most of the time when others talk about using a yellow (or orange or red) filter, the sky is almost always mentioned. a blue sky with white clouds will have dramatic contrast is what's normally said.

but what about street shooting where the sky is not often included in the pic?
if you are shooting mostly urban streets with people in the shot - do you use a yellow (or any) filter?

i'm thinking about stopping the use of filters completely when i do my normal shooting.

(i'm probably thinking this because i just bought 9 filters today on ebay)

joe
Click to expand...
 
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