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03-29-2009, 07:08 AM   #1
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Filters and black&white photography

I just loaded my first black and white film, and I wondered how one can increase the contrast? I have an orange filter lying about idly; I read these increase contrast, do they?

Besides this, any other tips are very welcome

03-29-2009, 07:16 AM   #2
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Try this link, yellow was my most used.

Using coloured filters with black & white film
03-29-2009, 07:39 AM   #3
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A quick way to see the effects of filters on B&W - download the free Virtual Photographer, and play around with the B&W modes:
Welcome to optikVerve Labs - Home of virtualPhotographer
03-29-2009, 08:36 AM   #4
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I don't have photoshop, so I guess then that wouldn't work, right?

But, basically it comes down to this, a filter of a certain colour lightens those colours whilst darkening the opposite colours.

03-29-2009, 08:45 AM   #5
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A yellow filter is a popular choice, used mainly to darken skies.
For more dramatic skies you can use a red filter.

I always use a yellow green (X0) filter for general photography.
It darkens skies slightly, lightens foliage and benefits skin tones.

Chris
03-29-2009, 08:48 AM   #6
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Red 25 is probably my most used. I also occasionally use Yellow 8 and Green 11.
03-29-2009, 09:03 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by ChrisPlatt Quote
I always use a yellow green (X0) filter for general photography.
It darkens skies slightly, lightens foliage and benefits skin tones.
Hoya XO for me too, i found a cheap HMC one and have been using it when i can.

03-29-2009, 10:05 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by Buffy Quote
Red 25 is probably my most used. I also occasionally use Yellow 8 and Green 11.
I was doing some homework on this myself to try some contrast and sky effect shots and found these three seem to be a real common choice in just about every tutorial online and all the old film oriented books at the library. Picked up a set of Cokins (all three) for cheap bundled as a Black & White Filter Set
03-29-2009, 11:31 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Nesster Quote
A quick way to see the effects of filters on B&W - download the free Virtual Photographer, and play around with the B&W modes
That would have been my advice. Seeing is... well, seeing.

woof!
03-29-2009, 12:50 PM   #10
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my most used is the Asahi Pentax YG (yelow green) really great for street photography because its good with flesh tones outdoors. I have been trying very hard to find the full set of Asahi Pentax B&W filters, but so far no luck.
03-29-2009, 01:00 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by kevinschoenmakers Quote
I just loaded my first black and white film, and I wondered how one can increase the contrast? I have an orange filter lying about idly; I read these increase contrast, do they?

Besides this, any other tips are very welcome
There are lots of good books about black and white photography available cheap at used book stores. Those written after about 1980 tend to be a bit more useful than older ones. Just pick up a beginner's book and one or two more advanced ones and you'll have your own little refence library. Much of Photoshop is based on old photographic concepts, so you can apply the book learnin' to digital.
03-31-2009, 02:21 PM   #12
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You can use a polarizer with b & w film the same as with colour.
03-31-2009, 02:34 PM   #13
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Would this be a good buy?

Marktplaats - De plek om Nieuwe en Tweedehands spullen te kopen en verkopen
03-31-2009, 03:38 PM   #14
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One of the guys in my dark room class i took in 2001-2003 (cause i did not want to set my Dad's stuff up at home) used a #25 and polorizer together, that produced a sudo IR look. Dark skies and fluffy white clouds.
Lots of contrast.

Dave
03-31-2009, 04:18 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by pentkon52 Quote
One of the guys in my dark room class i took in 2001-2003 (cause i did not want to set my Dad's stuff up at home) used a #25 and polorizer together, that produced a sudo IR look. Dark skies and fluffy white clouds.
Lots of contrast.

Dave
Yep, they call that a 'Day For Night' effect: they actually used to use this in making old black and white movies: so they could shoot in the day and make it appear like a night scene.
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