If I shoot mostly portraits inside and outside, what would be the best filter to start with?

Also, if I use a filter how do I compensate light wise. It seems confusing to me. I just ususally use my flash/or natural light.

When I picked up an enlargement of a photograpgh that I took for my portfolio, the gentleman at the camera store told me I could get better contrast if I used a filter.

He suggested orange. Before I spent the money...I thought I would ask all of ya'll your opinion.

Frankly, I thought my photograpgh was beautiful the way it was:)

Traci

-- Traci Suzanne Marvel (marvel@digisys.net), February 12, 2001

Answers

Traci, if you like your photos, don't mess with them. There is NO need to use filters in black and white portrait photography. For one thing, putting a cheap piece of glass in front of your [hopefully] good and expensive lens just degrades the ability of that lens. Having said that, I do like to put a red filter on my lens for more dramatic portraits - but so much depends on your vision. There isn't one solution and one 'truth.' So, if you feel like it, experiment, if not, let it go.

chris

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), February 12, 2001.

Traci, you don't HAVE to use filters. Only use them if you feel they can improve your work. It sounds like to me that you are relatively happy with your work as is.

As for compensating for filters, it depends upon how you meter your scene. If you are using an a camera that does TTL (through the lens) metering, the meter is already compensating for the filter. If you are using a hand held meter or a non-TTL metering camera, you will have to factor in the filter after you determine the proper exposure. Most filters will come with a recommendation of how much you need to compensate. Just add that to your basic exposure reading to come up with a new setting for your camera to use.

-- Johnny Motown (johnny.motown@att.net), February 12, 2001.

I beg to differ with your two previous posts. Skin tones especially lips and eyes will be drastically effected with the use of a red filter and using no filter produces rather flat results! It would be better if you would spend the money on a B+W yellow/green which will improve your portraits immeassurably!!! When shooting outside, without a flash, just open up or slow your shutter speed. When shooting with flash inside, you have only one option... open your f stop up (go from f11 to f8).

-- Scott Walton (f64sw@hotmail.com), February 12, 2001.

I have had poor results with a red filter when used for portraits (If you use it for landscapes that is a different story.You can get very dramatic results). Fair skinned subjects with freckles or any caucasian with facial blemishes especially. A yellow green filter, however, in my experience enhances skintones. Filters, however, are not necessary.As stated in previous posts if you are happy with your results stick with what you know. In reality the best way to improve your prints is to use a custom lab that understands your requirements or bite the bullet and do your own developing and printing. I have never been satisfied with B&W prints made by a lab.

-- Robert Orofino (rorofino@iopener.net), February 13, 2001.

Traci: you have gotten some excellent responses: Filter factors were always a finicky subject, because some films react slightly differently to the same filter. Through the lens metering may compensate, but test to be sure. One good bet is to use the figures on the info sheet packed with the filter as a guide and starting point, or read the section on filters in the KODAK Master Photoguide. Green filters (likely the yellow-green or light green flavor) are said to "improve" skin tones. Red and yellow are a bit harsh for my tastes. Choose the filter with the lowest "factor", which will lower your effective film speed the least. I think a light yellow filter has a factor of about 2, green, 3.2, and orange and red much more. If you are shooting a yellow filter with 400 speed film, the effective speed is 200, etc. If you like the skin tones you produce, and they please your customers/subjects, why change? One thing to be aware of, in addtion to the "degrade the image by putting a CHEAP piece of GLASS in front of your expensive lens element" argument: Placing a filter in front of your lens will affect the focus by approximately 1/3 of the filter glass'thickness. All will affect ultimate sharpness, but a smaller f/stop will compensate somewhat. If you think you can improve, try to obtain a book of photographs by Peter Gowland, who, in my never humble opinion, consistantly produced BEAUITFUL skin tones, not to mention marvelous photographs. Be aware, Gowland specialized in women, and his photographs might be seen as politically incorrect nowadays. I have been trying to produce skin tonalities like Gowland for years. Don't know if he used filters or not. Anyway, that's the FUN of this magical pastime.

-- Carl Crosby (mkbee@gateway.net), February 14, 2001.