Filters or Post-Processing?

[yehosaphat]

Just like to find out from you guys which is the more preferred way of your shooting habits. Do you all bother to spend $$ on filters to suit your shots or just settle everything during PP?

Esp for the example when you are into landscape photography and often these shots have high contrasting regions between the sky and land. Do you get a set of Grad ND with the filter holders and watever stuff or just take 2 shots; expose for background and foreground and merge them later in PS?

 

[night86mare]

I don't know, I still think filters are much more natural, the look anyways.

And of course for certain things, you CANNOT replicate the same effect in PS.

 

[yyD70S]

Filters for me cos my p.p. suX big time... furthermore, there are certain things p.p. cannot or have a hard time simulating -- e.g. a polarizer.

 

[Scriabinesque]

filters tweaks the wavelengths of light hitting the sensor. post production is just putting tints/colors into the finished products. different actions.

 

[Pablo]

Is there a plug-in for PS that does Circular-Polarizing :bsmilie:

 

[Azure]

How about neither.

Okay, I do have a rather extreme filter for a very specific use. But otherwise, I prefer to get it out-of-the-camera. Too lazy to pp. And if you know what you are doing, you hardly need a filter, save for very specific conditions (eg, forcibly slowing shutter speeds by a lot, RM90 infrared pics...)

 

[Scriabinesque]

Is there a plug-in for PS that does Circular-Polarizing :bsmilie:

polarisation of light is a very physical quality, it alters the physical quality of light. likewise, how can you cut surface reflections out of your images in PS?

have you tried stacking two polarising filters together and rotate one of them while looking through it?

 

[yehosaphat]

I guess we all know factually PP cannot fully replace actual use of filters which many many of you have highlighted repeatedly.

But my qn is really what is YOUR habit? Do you guys really go out there with your filter attachments and your many filters when shooting landscape or just do it in PP later?

 

[yehosaphat]

Is there a plug-in for PS that does Circular-Polarizing :bsmilie:

Yes if the effect is to saturate colors. No if you want to cut down reflection on non metallic surfaces.

 

[Shuttergraphy]

But my qn is really what is YOUR habit? Do you guys really go out there with your filter attachments and your many filters when shooting landscape or just do it in PP later?

In filters I think you have to be more specific, because the polarizer would almost always be there plus some specialised ones e.g. Full ND to cut down light, and maybe IR filters.

For me i own a pair of Graduated ND2 Singh Ray's SS and HS (hard edge), which i use on a P Cokin holder. But generally use them on a tripod mounted environment, but those are for scenes that I think would benefit from it; I sometimes mount them together too. I don't use them often but it would almost always be in the bag, together with Blue-Gold and another polarizer on same mount because they are weightless. When you need it (and you know it), you WOULD need it but otherwise PP can do a good job too. I think the effect on PP (be it HDR) or so would be more natural then ND Grad filter to EVERYBODY cept photographers (because we know better?) and managing an additional piece of filter (and keeping it sqeaky clean) is more effort than clicking on my Actions. So, with regards to ND Grad filters, use it when you have to but as for polarizers, i even have backups!!! I do also think the future is HDR (wouldn't using a ND Grad mean that i'm lowering the exposure levels of the the part of scene? sounds like dynamic range to me) although it's still quite rocket sience to me, at the moment (to get it right) so i futureproof by bracketing even on RAW for keepers.

The Blue-Gold polarizer is an amazing filter during mid-day that can turn a bland midday shot into quite wonderful colors. Because it polarizes, should be difficult to emulate in PP. So, i'll still definitely keep my filters and use them.

 

[waileong]

Just like to find out from you guys which is the more preferred way of your shooting habits. Do you all bother to spend $$ on filters to suit your shots or just settle everything during PP?

Esp for the example when you are into landscape photography and often these shots have high contrasting regions between the sky and land. Do you get a set of Grad ND with the filter holders and watever stuff or just take 2 shots; expose for background and foreground and merge them later in PS?

Sadly, as someone who wants to sell 81B and other filters, I'm finding little market for them. The only filters which sell fast are CPL's and UV. The former is understandable, the latter is a joke, since a UV filter can only reduce image quality when used in Singapore, not improve it. The only time a UV filter can improve image quality is when there is a lot of UV, like when you go shooting in Mt Everest.

 

[psychobiologist]

mixture of both, but PP is better if one can control it well and knows how much to adjust

 

[giantcanopy]

How about an option for both ? Both are important
I make it a point to equip myself the necessary filters so as to correct ( the first shot ) as much as possible. PP comees later

I do not think polarizer is tat easily corrected with PP
A GND is good to use but there will be situations that necessitate HDR

Ryan

 

[yehosaphat]

Agree that most of the time the best option is to do both. But left that option out knowing that most might choose that option and skew the results of rest of the options ma...

 

[yehosaphat]

since we are on this topic on grad NDs? do you guys own Lee filters? Heard they are good!

 

[yehosaphat]

since we are on this topic on grad NDs? do you guys own Lee filters? Heard they are good!

No advises anyone?

 

[lastboltnut]

To me, I only have CPL and GND filters. The rest I will PP....like colour filter, starbust etc.

No $ to buy so many filters and cannot afford to carry so many filters around (beside carrying my son's diaper bag).:bsmilie:

 

[JLee]

since we are on this topic on grad NDs? do you guys own Lee filters? Heard they are good!

Yes, I use Lee 0.3, 0.6 & 0.9 ND Hard Grads and Soft Grads on Lee filter holder system. My polarizer is Heliopan 105mm. I'm a BIG time sucker for filters. Having said that, I still do PP. (Who doesn't anyway?) PP to me is like "salt & peppering" to taste, while filters are like "pan & wok" while the main ingredient is the photographer :bsmilie:

On a more serious note, I strongly believe in GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) and secondly I try my best to cut down on PP time, which can be better use on quality time with my family.

 

[yyD70S]

To me, I only have CPL and GND filters. The rest I will PP....like colour filter, starbust etc.

No $ to buy so many filters and cannot afford to carry so many filters around (beside carrying my son's diaper bag).:bsmilie:

You could improvise... putting filters in the diaper bag... better still if soggy...
a la graduated GNDs

 

[lastboltnut]

:bsmilie:

You could improvise... putting filters in the diaper bag... better still if soggy...
a la graduated GNDs