Of course I always have a UV filter on. But I never hear of anyone using filters anymore. Myself, I use them all the time: warming, cooling, sepia, neutral density, soft and sky.
Granted all the effects can be done digitally in Photoshop or whatever post program is being used, but try to get a soft effect in Photoshop and you will be sitting there for over an hour. I get great results with just the filters and mainly use photoshop for adjusting levels.
I use a polarizer quite a bit and have a GND on the way, but my warming/cooling/soft filters haven't been used in nearly 7 years. I'd rather have a raw unaltered image that I can adjust various ways rather than slapping a filter on and being mostly stuck with its effect. Obviously, a good filter will achieve a desired effect quickly and easily, but I'm just more of a control freak.
I actually don't own any filters but plan to be adding them all to my kit with in the next few months. I am a big fan of the more SOOC I can get it the better
I still use filters, as you say there are some things that would take an absolute age to achieve in an editing suite that can easily be done SOOC with the right filters
I use them, have about 30 different ones. Some are the UV & the polarizer of course, then the GND, various types of star filters, magnifiers & macros of different degrees (I don't have an actual macro lens yet), soft, colors, rainbow, ect...
I understand the idea of not being stuck with an image you can't change but also am a big fan of the more SOOC I can get & agree it can be faster than editing. If the shot warrents & I am able I will often shoot it with & with out the filter so I have a choice.
I have and frequently use a Circular Polarizer Filter, Neutral Density Filters ranging from 1 to 3 stops, and a Graduated Neutral Density Filter.
Doesn't matter if you spent a lifetime editing a photo, you can never achieve the same effects as you can with these filters. I'll admit, for other effects I do use action scripts in Photoshop.
CPL for most of my landscape shots to really bring out nice even colours across the frame. Occasionally I use an ND8 filter, but I'm not that experienced with it and still learning how to get the most out of it..... oh and of course I just started messing with my el-cheapo star filter :)
I have a set of filters, but I don't know how to use them...they're on my list of things to learn. :) I do like the polarizing effects I've gotten on the few photos I've taken with that one...
I have my UV filter on permanently, and I also have two square Cokin filters that I got for Christmas, with the filter camera. I have a gradient neutral grey and a gradient mauve. They give some pretty cool effects but I need to play more.
Polarizer and GND filters.I love the polarizer for landscapes. My photographer tutor told me to throw my UV filters in the bin, guess he is not a fan of them!
I do. Always have my polarizer. Down here colors look horrid without a polarizer, just too much light. Also helps to be able to have that additional stop down if needed.
Have a set of cokins that I pull out on occasion. Rather pleased with the results though I do know you can do the same in PS. I still like to do all my work at the time the photo was taken. Guess that's what you get growing up on film.
@kirsty Tell your photo tutor that between buying a new filter and a new lens it's always better to buy a new filter should something scratch the glass or bend the outer rim of a lens. Been there done that always have a UV on the front of my lenses now. Luckily I did have one on that lens and with a little force was able to get the bent filter off and put a new one on, the lens would have been destroyed otherwise, and that's not something you really want happening with a screw mount camera. spare lenses were just too hard to track down.
I've got a really cool 67mm Blue filter that I use on my DSLR... it isn't completely overbearing but definitely adds a wicked sorta cool hue to the photo.
Here's another thing about the UV filter you should always have one on you lens. They have saved my lens twice in my photo career. Once when I was in school the lens popped off & hit the floor. The cap shoved in shattering the UV filter but the filter protected the lens. More recently one of my kiddos knocked it off a table & same thing happened. Not only can it preserve your lens glass from general wear & elements but from accidents too!!
UV and polarising. All my lenses are different diameters so every time I think about lashing out on a filter I put it off because I can't decide what size to get.
I use Cokin graduated filters a lot, its something you cant really replicated in photoshop the fact that it affects the way the camera captures the exposure....
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Polorizing filter:
I understand the idea of not being stuck with an image you can't change but also am a big fan of the more SOOC I can get & agree it can be faster than editing. If the shot warrents & I am able I will often shoot it with & with out the filter so I have a choice.
Doesn't matter if you spent a lifetime editing a photo, you can never achieve the same effects as you can with these filters. I'll admit, for other effects I do use action scripts in Photoshop.
UV filter sometimes -just to protect my lens from elements(blowing sand,salt water etc...).
Have a set of cokins that I pull out on occasion. Rather pleased with the results though I do know you can do the same in PS. I still like to do all my work at the time the photo was taken. Guess that's what you get growing up on film.
@kirsty Tell your photo tutor that between buying a new filter and a new lens it's always better to buy a new filter should something scratch the glass or bend the outer rim of a lens. Been there done that always have a UV on the front of my lenses now. Luckily I did have one on that lens and with a little force was able to get the bent filter off and put a new one on, the lens would have been destroyed otherwise, and that's not something you really want happening with a screw mount camera. spare lenses were just too hard to track down.
My fave thus far with the filter: