What are softone filters used for?

[sonatauno1]

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

[dendrophile]

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

[sonatauno1]

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

[Colin Southern]

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 ...



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



... 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?

[sonatauno1]

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

[Colin Southern]

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.

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).

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.

[sonatauno1]

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