Filters have two different meanings depending on how long you have had portraits as a profession.  Most of us today think as filters as an option with Photoshop.  This is not the case.  Until the makings of personal computers and things like Photoshop we had tiny creative discs discs to create the filtered affect.  There are other choices with filters you can blur a picture, sharpen the picture, and even block out the UV rays.  Filters are often used to correct a problem or make a professional picture look a little different.

Lets talk about filters that render a picture.  When you are taking a picture of a waterfall at the bottom where the water rises in a cloud you can add a filter to create the cloud in the picture.  Cameras don’t always see what the eye sees.  In various times it can have a high resolution to depict the actual water drops rather than the cloud, so adding a filter to your lens can help create the effect your eye sees.

Other filters such as the Po;arizer guard against the harsh rays.  Along with the UV filter you should have a polarizer.  The polarizer is used in family portraits when you are taking a shot directly straight into the evening sun or other light.  It will help even out the picture so that you don’t get the washed out look.  Other filters can give you the fuzzy effect if you feel your pictures could tella thousand words.  The filters in Photoshop are not as wide as the filters you can actually buy for your camera, but they can have some of the same effects that you are after.

Have you ever wanted to magically fiter rays of light in a star shape of light filtering through the trees?  You can create a star effect with any photograph by using a star effect filter.  This filter allows light to pass through a series of thin lines etched into the filter letting the light stream in an outward direction in a star shape.

Some filters actually help you create a depth of field or focal point.  The fog/ mist filter is one of these.  The fog/ mist filter allows for a glow or gleem of gentle light.  Photography is filled with much skill and equipment.  Having filters to help create the optimum portrait will enhance your fun with your hobby.  Lets look at a few more filters.

There are color correcting lenses.  If the grass is too green for the photograph you can choose a filter that will tamp down the blue to a less bright state.  If you are into underneath water level photography you might have filters that allow for the underwater colors.  The color spectrum does not have a great range under water.  A lot of things will look red even though they are not.  It's not hard to make the original color of underwater life when you use various filters for color correction.

The use of filters in photography not only allows you to have special effects in a photograph to take a photo that has creative effects, but it can help enhance the shot by adding color or dampening the natural effects of light.  Photography has many types of equipment that require skill and knowledge making it a wonderful hobby or profession. If you need a hobby, photography as a business can be a real joy.

Author: Richard Rives of Richard's Photography in San Antonio Texas. Professional Portraits