Polarizing filters/lenses

[Michael Tam]

Photography is said to be "Painting with Light", whether it is from natural or artificial sources.  What you described as "puffers" is presumably mean diffusers.  The use of artificial lighting, meaning studio light box or electronic flash with miniature diffusers, in portrait photography is a science into itself.  

For an essential understanding of lighting, please read the following.  At the later part of the article described the use of Electronic Flash may be helpful in the use of "puffers":

http://photo.net/making-photographs/light
http://photo.net/photo/studio-photography

Incidentally, there will be a seminar held in January, 2011 regarding the issue of "work the light" by a speaker named, Philip Sun at the Etobicoke Camera Club near Islington & Dundas area.  There are so much to learn from fellow photographers. Guests are welcome if one is interested (see Program 2010-2011):

http://www.etobicokecameraclub.org/

Good birding and photography

[Michael Tam]

In Landscape Photography, there is the call for the use of wide-angle lenses between 18-24 mm (in 35mm terms) in order to capture scenics involving subject matter within the foreground and background together.  One issue that comes into consideration is Vignetting in the use of a filter system.  

The following article will be helpful to understand this issue:

http://singhray.blogspot.com/2009/04/fi ... lding.html

Good birding and photography.

[ravynne40]

Thank you for this valuable information, the sites are great teaching sites. I will see if i can make it to the seminar as well.

[Michael Tam]

There is a saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words".  To paraphrase it in the world of the Internet, "a link is worth  countless words".

If you are planning to attend the ECC seminar, please study the Map carefully since the road entry off Islington is visually confusing.  When one approaches from northbound Islington, there will be a "one way sign pointing Left".  But it is referring to the road to the right (or north) of the median of Anglesey Blvd.  Please inform the greeter and sign the Guest List.  As it a special seminar, there may be a charge of $5 for non-member.  Please see direction below:

http://www.etobicokecameraclub.org/PDF% ... am_web.pdf
http://www.etobicokecameraclub.org/

Enjoy the making of a great photograph by following the footsteps from the masters before us:

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how- ... -tips.html

Good birding and photography

[Michael Tam]

The popular French drop-in style filter manufacturer, Cokin has been sold to the Japanese manufacturer, Hoya.  As a result in the near term, the Cokin "P" series style filter is not available until it is offered under the Hoya brand name.

In the meantime, the drop-in style filter kit is available only through high end brand, such as Lee.  For those interested in creating a filter system for Landscape photography, please wait with patience from Hoya's release.

Good birding and photography.

[Kin Lau]

Cokin P compatible filters are available from many sources, as the Cokin ND filters are among the worst out there (horrible colour casts). I use a Singh-Ray that's much better - also way more expensive.

I also have the Cokin P and knockoff holders, and there's no difference in quality, just price.

[Michael Tam]

It is absolutely correct that Singh-Ray, as described in the articles posted in this thread, is better quality than the popular Cokin graduated ND filters.  

There are many brands of high end filters availble in the market.  It is true in most situation with optics, one's budget dictates the acquired quality.  Please see the cost differentials at the link below:
 
http://www.vistek.ca/results/CameraFilt ... op-In.aspx

Good birding and photography.

[Michael Tam]

There are benefits and limitations in either the use of graduated ND filters or the Photoshop/Lightroom in the control of exposure gradient of an image.  

The following article explains the use of Photoshop Layer options for those inclined towards this aspect of image management:

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how- ... capes.html

Good birding and photography.

[Michael Tam]

A polarizing filter is an indispensable tool in landscape photography.  To master the use of this filter, one must have a more thorough understanding of the various facets of its influence to an image.  The following article  offers much details in the use of a polarizing filter in the field:

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how- ... rizer.html

Good birding and photography.

[Michael Tam]

In the age of digital photography, a balanced and proper exposure can be mastered through the use of filters in the "Do it right the first time" approach or through the post-processing avenue via various available software such as Lightroom or Photoshop.  On the other hand, the use of Camera Filters would be a second nature for those started in the film days.

The following article described the decision tree via a flow-chart on the use of a variety of Camera Filters that are indispensable in one's photo gear collection:

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/ ... exposures/

Good birding and photography.