Filter Questions

I have been working a lot this year and am getting lots of questions I cant(lots of these) or donâ€™t have time to answer from my loaders / pa's and others about filters. Is there a book / reference source on filters (nomenclature) and the normal use of each type. IE. coral in all its permutations and color correction filters?

Not to mention a basic encyclopaedia of all the types and their uses most importantly how to use them. It seems to me that a reference like this would be invaluable to beginners and oldsters like myself.

Gerard Brigante IA 600
BL 4s owner / operator

I can think of few things more instructive than cornering Ira and having a chat about filters... the guy is a genius (I'm sure a chat with Hank Harrison would also be highly informative.) Tiffen has some basic info on the their website. Otherwise, the most instructive books on filters have been "Image Control" by Gerald Hirshfeld and Harrison & Harrison's "The Mystery of Filters" manual.

David Mullen, ASC
Los Angeles

David Mullen, ASC, wrote :

>...Tiffen has some basic info on the their website. Otherwise, the most >instructive books on filters have been "Image Control" by Gerald >Hirshfeld and Harrison & Harrison's "The Mystery of Filters" manual.

Or, for a handy reference you can carry in your pocket, get the Kodak Cinematographer's Field Guide, a 4-1/4 x 6-1/2 loose leaf notebook with a section on filters. It includes CC, LB, conversion filters, plus ND. As for corals, THE MYSTERY OF FILTERS, by H&H covers them under "Light Corrector Disks". As to all the various uses of them, that's up to you. You need to experiment and see what they do for you.

Wade K. Ramsey, DP
Dept. of Cinema & Video Production
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC 29614

David Mullen, ASC, wrote

Any idea where to get one's hands on either of these fine publications?

Chris Freilich
Cinematographer/Gaffer
Princeton, NJ
http://www.virtuosofilms.com

So nice to hear about these multiple publications. However, it begs my initial point. One publication with all the basics and advanced theory would not be unreasonable. Film schools and pro's alike would appreciate it.

Gerard Brigante IA 600
BL 4s owner / OP

>One publication with all the basics and advanced theory would not be >unreasonable. But books are so 'last century'! South London filters have >pretty comprehensive info on

Their website (as do others) :

http://www.camerafilters.co.uk/

Between Google, CML, and making a few phone calls who needs a book.

Tom Townend,
Cinematographer/London.

Check out

http://www.camerafilters.co.uk/

Mike Southon bsc

Gerard Brigante writes:

>So nice to hear about these multiple publications. However, it begs my >initial point. One publication with all the basics and advanced theory >would not be unreasonable.

Maybe it wouldn't be unreasonable, but it would be a rather large book, or set of books.

>Film schools and pro's alike would appreciate it.

Yes, but would they buy it. Keep in mind that if you want current filters included, any book would probably be out of date as soon as it was published.

You might try "The Photographer's Guide to Filters" written by the aptly named Lee Frost which unlike many others, is readily available. It claims to do everything you ask.

Otherwise, can we look forward to your publishing debut?

Brian Heller
I 600 DP

Books are more permanent and transportable. Last century or not they can be tossed in a kit bag or dropped without worries. Don't run out of battery power or get a virus at an inopportune time. I therefore respectfully submit that a publication is still the way to go.

Most especially if we would want true repeatable color rendering with examples of filtration usage. The average computer monitor from machine to machine would not cut it.

Gerard Brigante
IA 600

Gerard Brigante wrote :

>"...about filters. Is there a book / reference source on filters >(nomenclature) and the normal use of each type..."

Several excellent replies from others later, that's what happens when I'm en-route from one coast to the other and away from the computer...

South London's site is perhaps the best on-line collection of relevant images; Tiffen and Schneider also have good on-line information...if you can still get the Tiffen video "Which Filter Should I Use?" it includes some unique insights and examples originally developed by Pete Fasciano, Avid co-founder, on issues regarding light and diffusion/contrast/flare filters that I haven't seen anywhere else - after almost twenty years it still has value...Harrison's "Mystery of Filters" remains a substantial detailed explanation of many aspects of filter use, with a personal touch.

Remember, too, that the ASC Manual has my filter section in it plus a number of Kodak charts; Kodak's Filter Guides, including the collection of spectrophotometric charts, is a must for anyone with more than the basic interest in the technical aspects. And if you follow another suggestion already made and do a web search, try looking for specific filter applications, like infrared photography- it will bring up many sites where someone has brought their passion for that aspect to places no corporate technical guide is likely to cover - and you wind up being the beneficiary...I've learned a lot from such sites. And, as for me, CML is always a great resource...you've not got just the filter makers, but even more importantly, the filter users- they're really the best ones for information...

Happy Hunting!

Ira Tiffen
CA/NY

South London Filters publish a great catalogue/guide.

Cheers

Geoff Boyle FBKS
Director of Photography
EU Based
www.cinematography.net

A couple more filter-resource items :

Gerald Hirschfeld's "Image Control" has been revised by Jerry with the goal of seeing it reprinted soon...

Joseph Meehan has an excellent book, "The Photographer's Guide to Using Filters" which, while it has its genesis in still photography has much to say to other filter applications, motion imaging being a collection of stills.

Ira Tiffen
CA/NY

I gave the names of the books to the kids and it seems since I cant supply the publishers they cant find them. It seems they thought I had copies and could give the pubs name but I don't own the books.

Please, anyone who has the publishes names for any of the books referenced, send them on.

Best,

Gerard Brigante IA 600

Gerard Brigante writes:

> I gave the names of the books to the kids and it seems since I cant >supply the publishers they cant find them.

They can't be looking very hard.

"The Photographer's Guide to Filters" by Lee Frost comes up on Amazon.com with new and used copies from $13.95 just by entering "filters" in their search engine. It's also on the rack at many photo stores and at Borders, and at Barnes & Noble.

Publisher: David & Charles Publishers; (May 1, 2002)

ISBN: 0715314009 | All Editions

The Mystery of Filters may still be available from Harrison and Harrison, the filter manufacturers.

Image Control by Gerald Hirschfeld is out of print, but according to Ira Tiffen a revised version is in the works.

Hardcover: 132 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 11.50 x 0.75 x 9.00 Publisher: Focal Pr; (November 1, 1992)
ISBN: 0240801679

Brian Heller
IA 600 DP

Dear Shooters STATE SIDE,

I am sorry that we do not provide you with the South London Filter "Vision Enhancement" brochure/catalogue. It is a free by-annual 48 page (color) update of Filter products that we specialize in from all of the major manufactures, plus Matte Boxes and Lens accessory's.

It is designed for the " Kit Bag " but dose not carry as many Images as our web site. A simple reason for this is that to show examples of the same Filter, be it Antique Suede (for example) which is manufactured by three different manufactures, which are all of a different color ! is rather expensive in a color publication without being biases. With the web site I can update and release information inexpensively at no cost to the manufactures or end user's. However I am sure that The "Filter Gallery" in NYC for a concessionary charge would make our publication available for those of you who are interested.

Thank you to all the DoP's, Ira & Geoff who support the and promote, both our publication and the web site. Keep looking for new Pages and Images, as Autumn & Winter tends to be the time when I add to the site.

Regards

Carey Duffy
South London Filter Ltd
Tel.+44 (0)20 7735 1900
Fax: +44 (020) 7820 1718
http://www.camerafilters.co.uk