| Have you ever wondered if you need to use | | | | Color Correction Filters: |
| photography filters with a digital camera? When | | | | While the polarizing filters mentioned in the |
| digital cameras took over film cameras, the post | | | | previous paragraph are necessary even in the |
| production changed as well. The darkroom seems | | | | digital age, the color correction filters, however, |
| to have been replaced with a computer and | | | | are not as crucial to the success of the image |
| graphics program, such as Adobe Photoshop. | | | | outcome. This is because color correction filters |
| Although manipulation can be done after the | | | | manipulate the color, and the post production |
| image is taken, whether in the darkroom or | | | | graphic manipulation programs (Such as Adobe |
| computer, there is no real substitute for the | | | | Photoshop) can compensate pretty well for this. |
| original image being as close to the quality output | | | | The basic need for these color correcting filters |
| desired in the first place. | | | | was to compensate for the difference in the |
| The primary purpose of a photography filter is to | | | | temperature of the ambient light with the type of |
| enhance or change the picture. There are several | | | | film being exposed. These filters are named with |
| different categories of filters as well as many | | | | a number and a letter, such as 80A or 85B. |
| different manufacturers. Another purpose for | | | | Special Effect Filters: |
| photography filters is to protect the camera lens. | | | | Special effect filters create fun and sometimes |
| Filters are inexpensive when compared to the | | | | unusual effects. Examples of special effect filters |
| cost of replacing a camera lens. Often | | | | are fog, sepia, and star filters. As their name |
| photographers use an all-purpose filter for this | | | | suggests, they produce the named effect within |
| purpose, and exchange it for a more specialized | | | | the image. Perhaps the best special effect filter is |
| filter when the subject calls for something a little | | | | actually not even referred to as a filter, but as a |
| different. Below is a list of some of the more | | | | lens, and is called a "close-up lens." They usually |
| common categories and filters available to today's | | | | come in a set, and can be used in combination to |
| photography enthusiast. | | | | achieve the desired close-up distance. They are |
| Essential Filters: | | | | much less expensive than purchasing a dedicated |
| The purpose of a clear filter is to protect the lens. | | | | macro lens, and produce clear, brilliant images. |
| It does not affect the exposure of the image. UV | | | | Black and White Filters: |
| (Ultra Violet) filters help with removing some haze | | | | Black and White filters rely on the principles of |
| caused by ultra violet light. There are different | | | | color separation to manipulate images for a |
| types of polarizing filters. This filter is especially | | | | desired effect. The choice of black and white |
| important because the software available today | | | | filters is broken down by a color name along with |
| just does not come up to par with duplicating the | | | | a number. Theses filters work by absorbing their |
| results of using a polarizing filter at the time of | | | | complementary color of light. For example, a |
| exposure. When choosing a polarizing filter, decide | | | | yellow filter will absorb blue, and make the sky |
| if you need a linear or a circular polarizer. Basically, | | | | darker, which in turn can enhance the appearance |
| if you are using an auto-focus single-lens-reflex | | | | of clouds in the sky against it. A yellow-green |
| camera, you would need the circular polarizer. This | | | | filter can minimize the effects of red that |
| is because of the beam splitting metering system | | | | tungsten lighting can produce. |
| that the digital camera uses. | | | | |