Create-a-Filter
By Sonia Adam Murray
29 May 2009
To start this project I looked around the house and garden for different things that could be considered as filters and was amazed at the number of things that I found. In the end I have narrowed the filters down to the 11 photos shown here. I have not attached anything to my camera, I have held the filters between me and my camera, have draped the filter over me or placed the filter between me and my camera and have even placed my camera under a table with me above it to get the effect I wanted. In my title photo I found an old heavy plastic bag with green netting material on its outer edges, I like the lighting effects it created and the green was also rather effective. In the second photo I placed a painting of mine done on Plexiglas outside on our pool deck and used a part of the artwork which was just the clear blue Plexiglas to obtain this filter, as it was outside you also get the shadows of the sun shade, pool, pool equipment and the base of the sliding doors to the house all of which give the photo more character. In the third photo I found a round red plastic cocktail plate which had four divisions, I am in between two of the divisions, you will notice that the plastic is a little thicker at the divisions giving the photo another dimension. For the fourth filter I put my camera under a glass table and shot the photo looking up towards me this gave more of an abstract feeling to the photo. For the fifth filter I found some old plastic flower paper I have used for many different things and liked the effect I got. I saw my grandchildren's string bag hanging on the wall over the bath tub filled with toys, so I removed the toys, and placed the bag over my head and used it as my sixth filter. Rummaging around my materials I came across 2 that interested me the one I used in my seventh photo was a black netting material with colourful patches with ghost's shapes inside the patches. The filter material I used in the eighth photo was black netting with different coloured and sized sequins stuck on it. As you can see I have secured the material on one side and am holding it over me on the other side. I really liked the effect of the creases in the material and where the material folds over on the right hand side. Looking around the garden I came across Spanish moss and thought that this was an interesting filter to use, giving more of an abstract capture. Once again, walking around the garden I came across a rake and decided that too could make an interesting filter and used it in photo number 10, giving it a bit of an incognito effect. Searching my closet I found a pretty silk shawl and draped it beside an attractive wooden base of a lamp you can distinctly see me peeking through almost in the center of the material and I like the way the composition came out, this was my final filter. It is amazing how much time one can spend for these fun projects, any critiques are well accepted, because I want to get better!
9 responses
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Ann Reece gave props (29 May 2009):
This article gives a whole new dimension to camera filters that I had never considered! I think that this use of household and garden items is very creative. Well done Sonia!
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Simon Kossoff said (29 May 2009):
It looks like you have had a lot of fun with this Sonia. I personally like the ones with a sense of mystery and drama (the red one and the frosted glass one). Well done.
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Regenia Brabham gave props (29 May 2009):
I can see that you had a blast with this series and got very creative. You have wonderful ideas and some very fun shots! This has my vote.
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Martin E. Morris gave props (29 May 2009):
A lesson in creativity which we should all learn from.Great work and a definite yes vote!!!
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Michael Ball gave props (29 May 2009):
Looks like you had a blast the last few days while I was gone! I'll try and catch up!! Some fantastic ideas and very creative shots!! I say "It Rocks"!!
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peggy gardner gave props (2 Jun 2009):
this is fabulous. you are so creative..that blue plexiglass is way cool...you have the rusty wheels in my mind turning again - thanks sonia !!.
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Rey mos gave props (2 Jun 2009):
Quite a creative work.
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Litz Go gave props (3 Jun 2009):
cool photo essay, Sonia! my vote.
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Deborah Downes gave props (4 Jun 2009):
This definitely "rocks". Very creative, Sonia, plus we get the added treat of seeing you have so much fun.
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