Filters for b&w close ups in cloudy days

Laci Toth · Sep 15, 2019

Hi all,

I’m shooting b&w, mostly close ups in nature. I’ve read about the red/orange/yellow/green and blue filters but still wondering which should I use on cloudy days as those are I prefer. I’m thinking of getting an orange and a green filter but would be curious about your opinions/experience.

Thanks!

KenS · Sep 15, 2019

Laci Toth said:
Hi all,

I’m shooting b&w, mostly close ups in nature. I’ve read about the red/orange/yellow/green and blue filters but still wondering which should I use on cloudy days as those are I prefer. I’m thinking of getting an orange and a green filter but would be curious about your opinions/experience.

Thanks!

Laci..

A LOT depends on the 'what', its colour.. and the 'intended' result. You have to take into consideration the colour/tone of the main subject matter or the contrast 'modification' compared to the 'background' colour/tone when your final print is made. Are you needing to 'increase' or 'decrease' the tonal 'separation'. ie. White clouds 'foating' in the clear blue sky could use a 'mid' yellow filter to provide a definite visible density/contrast in the final print.
Don't forget to 'allow' for the change in f-stop usually 'opening the iris or slowing the shutter speed to compensate the 'amount of light for any filter attached to the front of the lens. (or open up ) reduce the f-stop by the required amount. If the exposure is using 'automatic' you can 'modify the exposure by 'changeing' the ASA (unless the camera in use is reading' the manufacturer's 'speed-code' on the canister.

Ken

Ken

AgX · Sep 15, 2019

You did not say what effect you have in mind. Your wording "filter for use on cloudy days" does not say so.

John Koehrer · Sep 15, 2019

one thing to keep in mind are 1) filters lighten their own color and darken their complement. I seem to remember that
Kodak had one in one of their photo guides and do not remember if it's the same as used in paints but don't believe so.

Another bit of information fwiw "read it on the internet" is they're not especially effective with overcast skies.

Sirius Glass · Sep 15, 2019

There is no filter for overcast days. For cloudy days the clouds can be enhanced by darkening the sky with yellow [light, medium, dark], orange [light, medium, dark], red 23, red 25, red 29, 720, ...

Pieter12 · Sep 15, 2019

Cloudy days produce nice, even lighting. Probably not ideal for close-ups, unless you're just documenting something. Your choice of filter will be determined by the colors in the subject, not the lighting.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Sep 15, 2019

Laci Toth said:
I’m thinking of getting an orange and a green filter

Orange will darken foliage and blue skies. Green will lighten them. On overcast days, you can still get decent contrast depending on the subject. Just need to experiment.

Laci Toth · Sep 16, 2019

I took a walk in the woods today with all the really useful infos from all of you and was a nice experience to examine the colours of the subjects and the background and composing in the head about what filter I’d use for certain situations.
Thanks very much indeed!

CMoore · Sep 19, 2019

Laci Toth said:
I took a walk in the woods today with all the really useful infos from all of you and was a nice experience to examine the colours of the subjects and the background and composing in the head about what filter I’d use for certain situations.
Thanks very much indeed!

Filters for b&w close ups in cloudy days

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