Images

I just took a roll of film in today, after doing a shoot with my niece and nephew for some Christmas pictures for their parents.

What was a bit surprising, was I plan to make some poster sized images of them for their parents, and the type of disk I need for that, High Resolution, which stores the images at 12 to 13 MP (mega pixels) costs me $16.00 just for the disk. That is ok, but man I wish they would get the digital cameras that high. I like working off the lens, more than using computer programs, and 10 MPs is just not good enough yet for that.

When using special effects filters, like a star, on the 10 MP pictures, they still tend to come out rough and pixilated, I figure that at about 12 mp, this should go away, from the images I have seen from photographers that use the 10mps now. Film on the other hand, you can get a smooth image that looks a lot better. Plus I like having it right on the image, and not on a layer that you have to work out and find the right size that will be acceptable. Nothing worse than seeing a image with crazy sized effects on it.

I have seen images that had small stars around the image, with a large one in the center, these are today usually done by computer, and many have this ridiculous large one in the center. Now this can be done on a star filter, but there is a mathematical justification on how much effect this will be. It also takes a short time to set up, not that hard though, just playing with the lighting and angles.

Another point is gradients, when using gradient colors, digital tends to jump to the colors, with shorter variants between them, while film will give you a more smoother transition. This might also be helped by the more pixels, being that it would give the computer more to work with, thus a larger area to field the shades of color.

Another thing you can do on film you cannot do on digital, is multi-use filters. Sometimes when I cannot get the lighting right for a diffuser, I'll resort to a fog#1 where slightly over lighting will make the fog work as a diffuser, yet drown the diffuser filter, on a real bright outdoor day, I find the fog#1 much better than a diffuser to get the same shot. And on a digital, I have to take the shot and then soften it on the computer.

One of the best investments I have found for filters so far, is the Cokin Gels. This is a pack of like 20-30 colored gel filters, that can be used in place of many of the effects filters for issues like Tungsten and other lights, B&W film, and other issues, as well as special effects. I am getting a third set, so I can cut my second set to make more shaped frames that can be shot with. Gels are a Photographer's best friend!

Yes I love using filters, and will be needing to get another bag just for my filters!!!!