added 4 April 2002

 

The Making of "Exclusive," Part Two:
Some Filtered Image Examples
an article by Don Berube

Reprinted with permission. Originally located at http://www.noisybrain.com/onloc1_02.html

Subtle Diffusion: Tiffen Black Diffusion FX .5 with UltraPol Polarizer and internal ND filter on Canon 16x IS II lens. The diffusion softens the "edginess" of the video image, while retaining a clear focus and helps to round out the contrast.

The internal Neutral Density filter of the Canon 16X IS II lens, combined with the Tiffen UltraPol Polarizer, effectively reduces the amount of bright sunlight entering the lens, allowing for a wider aperture and creating a shallower, more "film-like" depth of field.

Controlling Reflections: Tiffen UltraPol Polarizer with Black Diffusion FX .5 and internal ND filter on Canon 16X IS II lens. The UltraPol Polarizer filter significantly reduces the glaring reflections on the surface of the water, allowing us to see more of the color of the children's bathing suits as they move about in the pool.

Color saturation is also enhanced dramatically, allowing colors to stand out against the blue water.

Reducing Depth of Field: Tiffen .3 Neutral Density with Black Diffusion FX .5 and internal ND filter on Canon 16x IS II lens. By adding an additional stage of ND to the built-in ND filter in the IS II lens, the extremely bright early afternoon sunlight is signicantly reduced, allowing for a wider aperture and a shallower, more artistic-looking depth of field. The cluttered background becomes more of a wash of color, keeping the attention of the viewer on the child's expressions.

Balancing Exposure: Tiffen .6 Graduated Neutral Density, inverted (mounted upside down) with Black Diffusion FX and internal ND filter on Canon 16x IS II lens. By placing a .6 Graduated Soft-Edge Neutral Density filter upside down in the outer filter slot of the matte box, the light bouncing off of the brightly sunlit tennis court foreground is effectively reduced, balancing the court surface more evenly with the shaded trees in the background. The Tiffen Diffusion FX filter also adds a subtle amount of control over contrast in the trees, helping to bring out some of the color detail which would normally be lost in the shade.

noisybrain. is a Boston-based collaborative new media production company specializing in the art of Digital Storytelling and Digital Video training for independent, corporate, educational and organizational groups. They are Apple Solution Experts skilled in Digital Video production and editing techniques, DVD Authoring and Internet Video.

Written by Don Berube
Thrown together by Chris Hurd