Filters for Available Light

I will also be doing some available light photography in the very near future (since I don't have a strobe... see my other recent post), and was wondering what screw-on and gelatin filters to use for film... for both color and B&W. I know red filters and warming filters, but which ones and in what situations should I use them... such as do you use certain ones for color and others for B&W, and at what depths do you use the stronger filters. I realize that you will loose about 2 stops(?), but I will be using a f1.4 lens so that should not hurt me too severely.

Also, is there any preference in brands, such as Kodak, B&W, Hoya, etc...

Thanks for any help.

Filters and film are not a great combination. And I think that you will be disapponted with your results - I always was with mine. And it is worse these days because you may be on a dive boat with someone with a 200 Dollar compact and housing and a filter - producing stunning shots on full auto on the same dive.

Filters get your colour balance close - but you need control over white balance to get the colours spot on - and in the end pleasing. You can do this in Photoshop - but such adjustments done on a TIFF or JPG from a scan will degrade your image quality.

Also strong filters work best at slightly higher ISOs 200-400. And slide film is not great in this range.

For colour filter choices see this article by Craig Jones:

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/filters-and...ht-photography/

And you may also like to read this discussion:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2820

The one area worth exploring on film is black and white (where colour balance and high ISO is not a problem on film). A lot of people use an orange or red filter to pull a reef/fish/wreck out against a dark background. Make sure you meter for the fish - not the whole frame. This technique looks stunning on Agfa Scala - if it is still made.

Sorry to sound discouraging. But I think that filters are not a technique suited to film photography and I would like to help you save your time and money.

Alex

Alex, I do have some Scala in fact... ISO 200. Which filters specifically would work best with this film?

I should also ask about how much of a difference you can see between shooting Scala and shooting color, then converting it to B&W through the Channel Mixer in Photoshop.

Another question is that is it a good idea to always use a filter with the Scala or to also use it without a filter? In which situations is it best to use the filter?

Thanks again,

Craig

I would try the Scala without a filter first and then try it with a strong orange filter. Filters in black and white images are there to help you contol tones, by rendering different hues as different tones. For example the orange filter will darken blue water relative to your foreground subject and make it stand out.

So it is difficult to say when to use a filter. It is more important to understand what the filter is doing to the tones in your images and then dive looking for ways to exploit that.

Getting your exposure right makes a big difference with Scala and black and white in general - this is why I prefer digital so I can see how I am doing. One big advantage of scala is it is very good a capturing highlight detail. I often spot meter on black and white. Decide what you want to be mid toned in your scene and spot meter on it.

Alex