What are softone filters used for?

Hi everybody,

I just signed up as a new member. I recently got a gift of filters, an ample amount of filters, and I don't know what some of them are used for. Can any one help me when to use the following:

*Spl. Softone filter
*Softone filter
*Soft filter

I take a lot of sunsets and afterglow photographs.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
sonatauno1

This page says "Clear glass filter has irregular surface pattern to soften lens sharpness. Helps diminish wrinkles and blemishes for portraits that flatter." I guess these are the filter equivalent to applying a little blur in photoshop. The spl version gives more of a strong blur/softening.

(BTW, what I found astonishing is that searching for these terms in google brought up hits back to this CiC page. Amazing how quickly the google index gets updated.)

HTH,
Graham

Thank you graham. Do you have anything to suggest when I take photographs of the sunset, I have a few ghosting and flares and I have tried the polarizer and I also did not use any filter as I have researched. Unfortunately, I still get them, any tips. I am very new on photography.
Sincerely,
sonatauno1

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sonatauno1

Do you have anything to suggest when I take photographs of the sunset, I have a few ghosting and flares and I have tried the polarizer and I also did not use any filter as I have researched. Unfortunately, I still get them, any tips. I am very new on photography.
Sincerely,

---

Hi Sonatauno1 ,

The best shooting is usually in the 1/2 hour after the sun has dipped below the horizon - shooting during this period should eliminate any flare/ghosting issues, eg ...

http://backup.cambridgeincolour.com/...9/original.jpg

It is possible to shoot directly into the sun like this ...

http://backup.cambridgeincolour.com/...4/original.jpg

... but it's technically very difficult and you need a lot of specialist filters to have a hope of getting away with it (it's also very hard on the eyes - and you run the risk of damaging the camera is it's left facing the sun with lens attached).

Does this help at all?

Colin,

In the first photograph, was there any particulat filter that you used? I also have a lot of problems with 'noise'. In the second photograpgh, it looks like the sun was really high up when you took the shot. I do noticed that I get blinded with the glare of the sun no matter how low it's setting down the horizon. I will try to follow the tips you suggested this weekend. Thank you so much.

Sincerely,
sonatauno1

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sonatauno1

In the first photograph, was there any particular filter that you used?

---

Hi Sonatauno1,

For many of my landscapes I use either a Singh-Ray GND filter or Singh-Ray Reverse GND filter - off memory the latter for that 1st shot, and both for the 2nd.

Quote:

---

I also have a lot of problems with 'noise'.

---

This usually comes from trying to dig details out of shadow areas that are too close to the noise floor - GND filters are the answer, but they need to be sliding ones, not the screw-on variety (can give you more info about these if you need).

Quote:

---

In the second photograpgh, it looks like the sun was really high up when you took the shot. I do noticed that I get blinded with the glare of the sun no matter how low it's setting down the horizon.

---

Yes - it's certainly uncomfortable. As a rule I don't shoot into naked sun - it's just too hard to filter back whilst still retaining shadow detail. Having a sun hat helps - and when setting up it pays to keep the lens cap on until the sun has dropped below the horizon.

Hey Colin,

Thank you for your tips and please tell me more about the sliding filters. I presume you know that all of the filters I have are the screw-on ones. I have un-capped my lens while waiting for my chance to take a good picture of the sun. Will do some more experimenting soon. I apologize for being silent for a few days or more. I came down with a very bad cold. Until the.

Sincerely,
sonatauno1