• Photos

  • Level

  • Score

BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Problems with Images

Photography Question 

Mickey L. Guinn 		 

Using my Skylight Filter


 
 
When I shoot with my Hoya 7mm skylight filter, with my Canon D10 my photo's look like I have bright lights on the subject in the foreground, almost makes the foreground white. I'm not using any photo lights, just the sun as light. So I must be doing something wrong! I'll take any advice you have.


To love this question, log in above
August 04, 2005

 

Jon Close 		  Are you referring to your photo, "The Wall"? If so I don't think the filter had anything to do with it. It's simply overexposed. The area under the eave that's in deep shadow has been exposed well, but that leaves the very brightly lit foreground overexposed. There's just too much contrast difference between the two areas.

This can be worked around by exposing for the bright area and using fill flash or a reflector to lighten the shaded area. With a static subject like this and digital you can instead combine two images, one exposed for the bright foreground and the other for the items in shadow.


To love this comment, log in above
August 04, 2005

 

Christopher A. Vedros 		  Mickey, I'm stumped. The the only skylight filter I've heard of is the skylight 1A, which is basically just clear glass. What's the 7mm refer to?


To love this comment, log in above
August 04, 2005

 

Michael H. Cothran 		  Mickey & Chris - Actually, the Skylight 1A is not a "clear" filter. If you lay a Skylight 1A filter on a white sheet of paper, you'll note that it is slightly "pink," and is meant to compensate for the bluish cast in higher altitudes.
Obscure as they are, there are Skylight 1B's and 1C's, sequentially more dense.

That said, the skylight filter really serves no purpose other than very slight haze control and lens protection. I would not even bother using one unless there was danger of damaging the front of my prime lens. The pink DOES change the hue, but so little as to really be unnoticeable.
I also concur with the others that this filter would not have had the affect on your image that you are concerned with. You did something else different along the way.
The 7mm that was stated in the inquiry is just a typo, I believe. Probably 67mm or 77mm filter size.
Michael H. Cothran
www.mhcphoto.net


To love this comment, log in above
August 05, 2005

 

Mickey L. Guinn 		  I did have a typo , it's a Hoya 77mm Skylight filter not 7mm. Thanks so much for the information, & the advice, I'll put it to good use. Have a great day .


To love this comment, log in above
August 06, 2005

 
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here

Report this Thread