Improve Your Shots Using Optical Filters

Mike Bedford looks at the benefits of photographic filters and how to emulate them – but some effects can only be achieved optically.

- Mike Bedford

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One of the most extreme optical filters removes all visible light, allowing only infrared to pass through to the camera’s sensor. This provides the option of infrared photography which has been described as otherworldly or even spooky. If you want to know more, see our tutorial in LXF248.

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Some optical filters produced quite extreme vivid that might seem to be the sole domain of digital manipulation. Included here were multiple image and kaleidoscopic spiral filters; we even came across a rainbow filter. Many of these are still available, although duplicating the effect digitally would be preferable.

Here we’re going to be looking at photographic filters – but first, a word of explanation. The term ‘filter’ has taken on a different meaning in recent years. If our quick Google search is representative, a filter provides a means of digitally altering a photo. Commonly requiring little more than a single click, such filters can be used for artistic effect or for pure entertainment.