Filter for outdoor prom photos???

<p>I plan to shoot my daughter and her prom date as well as 2 other prom couples. Shoot is at my house and hopefully outdoors. I just wanted to ask your opinions on filter and obviously shoot it in the shade.</p>

<p>I will be using D300 and Nikkor 50mm f1.4 and draft a friend to hold a hand held reflector.</p>

<p>Here is my question. Should I take my UV filter off or put a different one on, or does it really matter.</p>

<p>thanks in advance...</p>

<p>I have no way of knowing if these photos are going to be taken at high noon on the day b4 the prom, in the early evening, when there is still some light in the sky, but the it's changing color rapidly, etc.. For this reason, no one can make a recommendation for one particular type of filter to use.</p>

<p>So, my recommendation is not to worry about color balancing filters: Shoot NEFs and tweak afterwards. I would be much more concerned with the quality of light and shadows, i.e., reflectors, scrims, etc. The same goes for softening filters. If you have a Zeiss Softar that you love, sure, use it. Otherwise, don't lock yourself in - just add softness in PP.</p>

<p>Tom M</p>

<p>You do not need anything else. <br>

If you shoot against sun light, then taking Off UV filter could possibly reduce chance of reflection, but otherwise is not necessary to remove it. Reflectors always help, even if you shoot in a shade.<br>

Since Nikon Flash technology provides such wonders, try to experiment with it ahead of time, possibly add a bit of sparcle in eyes, more than a reflector could provide.<br>

Shoot many pictures with and without flash and see what looks best.<br>

Since you have D300 and 50mm Nikkor, you should have already some shooting experience ? Verify your pictures on the LCD immediately.</p>

<p>Everybody always wants to get into an argument over this, but my UV and skylight filters stay on my lenses all the time, unless I've taken them off to put on a different filter. UV and skylight theoretically eliminate haze or excessive blue from the sky but the effect is extremely subtle to the point where they can always be left on the lens -- they will help a bit in the situations for which they are designed, but don't hurt in other situations. Frank is correct that a UV filter is one more glass surface that could create flare when shooting into the sun. If you are getting flare, that's one thing to check, but most of the time it's not a problem. Also, most people -- myself included -- use UV and skylight filters primarily to protect the front element of the lens rather than for any kind of color correction. Bottom line is leave them on unless you have a specific reason to take them off.</p>

<p>OUTSIDE: You mention a Reflector and you do not mention Flash.<br>

I doubt that a UV filter will make a lot of difference one way or the other, except in some cases if you are shooting into any variation of backlighting and using the Reflector to Fill.<br>

i.e. if the sun is at ANY point behind the Subjects. In these shooting scenarios I will often remove the UV Filter to lessen the likelihood of Flare especially if shooting at a large Aperture.<br>

If you are unsure - remove the Filter.<br>

A lens hood is most valuable (mandatory) in these shooting scenarios.</p>

<p>INSIDE (shooting Available Light): I generally remove the filter as a matter course to avoid unwanted Ghost Images. (and GI will almost always remain, unseen on the LCD).</p>

<p>WW</p>

 

<p>Hi Wade..... I bought my first slr in December 1979 and the elderly salesman was insistent on selling me a UV filter. He said it was the most inexpensive insurance for an expensive lens. I believed him then and I believe him now. My UV's never come off.<br>

Regards</p>

<p>Why do you need the UV filter?</p>

<p>The 50 1.4 already has no multi coating to reduce glare/flare. Why stick another piece of glass way out in front of your lens to catch more of it?</p>

<p>If you are using an UV filter just as a lens cap, why not just use a lens cap. You paid 500 bucks for a good piece of glass, and then stick a 25 buck piece of glass in front of it? Don't touch the lens with your fingers, and bring some canned air with you(they did not have canned air in 1979).</p>

<p>Put the hood/shade on and do the shoot. Almost every filter you can put in front of your D300 50mm, you can do in PP.</p>

<p>Yes, what WW said, that too.</p>

<p>It´s your doughier, my suggestion is to do one or more test shootings with her. Go out and try different exposure, the environment you plan to shoot you can try to pot the model in the shadow and the man with the reflector in the sun to get more separation from the environment. Then you can look at the shoots and see what you like the best and hope for the light to be similar on the prom day.<br>

Best regards Tore</p>