JPG: Stories: How To: Warming Filter Isn't Just For Portraits Anymore

How To

Warming Filter Isn't Just For Portraits Anymore

By Joshua Blankman

3 Feb 2009

Initially, I planned to go take some shots of the water, bay, and cityscape. But accidentally leaving a warming filter on my lens gave an glowing effect I hadn't planned on. From a previous portrait shoot, I had my 812 Tiffen filter left on my lens and forgot to take it off. On a normal occasion, the 812 filter is used to give subtle warm skin tones in portraitures. On this particular shoot, I was out doing a nighttime photo-walk by a harbor and was taking long exposure photographs, and the warming filter on my lens gave a surprising result. There was a nice warm orange glow around the main image. I have since gone out and used my 812 filter on other outdoor photos with equal success. For a while I have been looking for a way to really make my cityscapes and landscapes stand out and this is one technique I have discovered to really help.

Each photo in this example was taken in the Baltimore Harbor and across the bay with 60 second exposures a couple hours after dusk.

Used along with the 812 in the photos by the bay was a circular polarizer. Though I do not believe that this changed the actual look of the images, I tend to keep that filter on my lens for portraits and lanscapes alike, and I have used the 812 without the polarizer to great effect.

In conclusion, I would love to see how other people use designated filters that are meant for only one purpose. Sometimes when a filter gives a specific effect to the photo, it can be give a whole new artistic approach when used in various styles. Next time I should try using a landscape filter on a portait. Who knows what styles can be invented when bending the rules of filters.

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