Filter For Woodland

IanBarber · Jul 18, 2016

When in dark woodland with very little tonal separation between foliage, what would be the best filter to use to introduce tonal separation with black and white medium format film.

Ian Grant · Jul 18, 2016

I find it rather disturbing that you claim on your webiste to be a Photographer, Print Maker, and Teachers who also offers Woorkshops and then you come here on APUG asking so many very basic questions.

There's something not quite right here, Ive repoterted it to the Moderators.

Ian

IanBarber · Jul 18, 2016

Ian Grant said:
There's something not quite right here, Ive repoterted it to the Moderators.

Give me strength

I have asked what i believe to be a very valid question.

My website has nothing to do with the question I asked. Whats more, there is nothing on my website that states I am a master, teacher or educator of analog film. I simply am asking a question to help me learn a new craft.

Where is the harm in that ?

IanBarber · Jul 18, 2016

michael_r said:
Given a monochromatic scene such as the one described, there is little a coloured filter will do, and contrast will need to be expanded through a combination (and/or) of film development and printing contrast.

Thanks. straight forward answer which I understand.

Old-N-Feeble · Jul 18, 2016

I asked a question a year or two ago regarding which films will lighten foliage slightly without going full infrared (I wanted a very modest Wood effect). I received many very gracious replies recommending some 'extended red' films. You need to consider the spectral sensitivity of the film as well as ISO in addition to which filter(s) to use. I don't know if this is what you're looking for though.

Sirius Glass · Jul 18, 2016

Green filters can make the foliage lighter. You have to try it to see if that is the effect that you want.

IanBarber · Jul 18, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
Green filters can make the foliage lighter. You have to try it to see if that is the effect that you want.

Thank you. I will purchase a green one and see if the effect is what I am looking for

Vaughn · Jul 18, 2016

Wait until Fall. Then a yellow filter will give plenty of snap those yellow leaves.

I have been photographing in deep forests now for almost 40 years. On overcast days the contrast range is easy to work with. But I often work a lot along creeks where light can filter down, as well as other natural openings -- for example where a 15 diameter, 300+ foot tree just fell (sometime in the last few decades, anyway).

Fall is the only time I bring out a (yellow) filter -- our only fall color happens to be yellow. AA gives a good example of what a green filter can do. His opinion was that it turned the tonality a little like a charcohl drawing, which he was not much pleased with. But we on the Left Coast of North America have a very different forest than Merry England.

Here is my forest: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

pentaxuser · Jul 18, 2016

Vaughn said:
Wait until Fall. But we on the Left Coast of North America have a very different forest than Merry England.

You even have a different season. In Yorkshire, England they have Autumn instead. We do have a Fall( in fact a large number of Falls) in the U.K. but that occurs for a few hours in Scotland on New Year's Eve then we sober up again

I liked the shot of your forest.

pentaxuser

Vaughn · Jul 18, 2016

Thanks.

Youse guys use to say "Fall" until the Revolution...then leave it to the Brits to change it into a two-syllable word!

Back to filters for the woods. Basically, if the light is not there, a filter will do little for you.

revdoc · Jul 18, 2016

A filter will help separate 2 different colours. In a forest, you might have green and brown, so an orange filter will lighten the brown, and a green filter will lighten the green. However, in my experience, the effect is modest, and might not give the look you're after.

Also, the light reflected off leaves is often polarised. Consequently, you can usually use a polariser to make the leaves darker, and then use higher contrast (in development or printing) to separate out the vegetation without having the highlights on the leaves blow out.

paul ron · Jul 18, 2016

well if you are lucky, you can find shafts of light to give you a beautiful focal point, but yet the darker areas outside of the focal point will give you enough definition n contrast.

These shafts exist in low light conditions as well... its the under story vs holes in the canopy.
Slap in some bokeh n you've got your separation.

Vaughn · Jul 18, 2016

paul ron said:
well if you are lucky, you can find shafts of light to give you a beautiful focal point, but yet the darker areas outside of the focal point will give you enough definition n contrast....

Like this? (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Bill Burk · Jul 18, 2016

There you go... IanBarber, Vaughn can help you understand woodland photography by example!

Vaughn · Jul 18, 2016

Just showing off...

MattKing · Jul 18, 2016

Well, seen as we are showing off:

Scan of a toned print. No filter used in camera. Wish it didn't suffer as much as it does in upload.

Kevin Caulfield · Jul 18, 2016

Ian Grant said:
I find it rather disturbing that you claim on your webiste to be a Photographer, Print Maker, and Teachers who also offers Woorkshops and then you come here on APUG asking so many very basic questions.

There's something not quite right here, Ive repoterted it to the Moderators.

Ian

Good call, Ian. There's something funny happening here.

Arklatexian · Jul 18, 2016

IanBarber said:
Thanks. straight forward answer which I understand.

I think your question was a perfectly valid one and concerns a problem that many have faced over the years. Back when I was much younger, my photo mentors as well as information from Kodak recommended a green filter when photographing different shades of green in the same shot. Which green? I would recommend one that is not too dark. This is supposed to separate the different shades of green so they print as different shades of grey on the print.......Regards!

MattKing · Jul 18, 2016

FWIW, his website does seem to accurately reflect someone with fairly extensive digital experience who has recently become a (quite enthusiastic) convert to film.

JW PHOTO · Jul 19, 2016

Wow Ian, we sure are warm and friendly today aren't we???? Must be the unrest in Turkey has you on edge a little? Sometimes when we ask a question we should or maybe even do know the answer to, we still learn a new trick or twist from somebody.

IanBarber · Jul 19, 2016

JW PHOTO said:
Sometimes when we ask a question we should or maybe even do know the answer to, we still learn a new trick or twist from somebody.

I could not have said it better myself. Maybe @Ian G was having a bad day which reflected in his childish remark... who knows

JW PHOTO · Jul 19, 2016

IanBarber said:
I could not have said it better myself. Maybe @Ian G was having a bad day which reflected in his childish remark... who knows

I always like the saying, "The only dumb question is the one that wasn't ask"! Believe me, I've ask my share of dumb questions in my lifetime and I've also had my share of dumb answers too.

IanBarber · Jul 19, 2016

JW PHOTO said:
The only dumb question is the one that wasn't ask.

I totally agree but on this occasion I got reported for asking mine by @Ian G

pbromaghin · Jul 19, 2016

Excuse me, but just what is there to report?

IanBarber · Jul 19, 2016

silveror0 said:
I think you meant Ian Grant, rather than "Ian G" (who is a new member very recently). Just to clear Ian G of any involvement in this issue.

My apologies to @Ian G , I was referring to the comment made by @Ian Grant

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