Filters for B&W Work?

[jim_reed2]

I would like to add at least a couple of filters for B&W work to my outfit. I expect to use them primarily in outdoor work, both landscapes and/or architecture. I like the B+W multi-coated ones, but don't want to invest in ones that I won't use much.

 

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Right now, I'm looking at the B+W Med. Yellow (022) and Red-Orange (041) as the two that I would most likely get the most use out of.

 

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Given how I would expect to use filters in B&W work, are the Med. Yellow and Red-Orange the correct two choices to begin with?

 

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TIA for your thoughts.

[djphoto]

Jim, I would get medium yellow or orange (I prefer the orange), and

green.

[godfrey]

orange and green are my choices also.

[furcafe]

There are no real "correct" choices in filters for black & white, it

depends on what effect(s) you're trying to get & what your subject(s)

is(are). Medium yellow & red-orange are fine picks for darkening the

sky without affecting normal "colors" too much (as opposed to a dark

red, which will give you more of an "infrared" look), but, as Dave

Jenkins suggests, you may want to add a green filter, particularly if

you're doing a lot of landscapes (to lighten foliage, etc.). In

addition to your standard photography books, I think Kodak has a

pretty good discussion of using filters for B&W on their web site (the

various filter manufacturers probably have something similar).

[philip_woodcock]

another vote for yellow, orange and green.

the only ones I ever bought and use.

[johannes_fleischhauer]

Hi Jim,

I sometimes use a light blue filter for portraits. This filter will

darken everything that is red and can give a beautyfull effect. You

just have to be careful because impure skin will be also be

pronounced.

All you need is experience. Have fun.

 

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Johannes

[jackflesher]

Another vote for the med yellow 022, yellow-orange 040, and yellow-

green 060. I also have a red, but rarely use it. I use the 040 the

most.

[richard_saylor]

I use medium yellow (Leitz 1, equivalent to B+W 022), orange (Leitz

Or, equivalent to B+W 041), and light red (B+W 090). With a clear

blue sky, red can darken shadow detail too much (since shadows are

mostly illuminated by blue-cyan, which is complementary to red).

Orange can offend in this way also, but to a lesser extent. Red is

most useful on hazy or overcast days. I use at least a medium yellow

most of the time, orange when I want a darker sky or increased

contrast between sunlit and shadow areas.

[lutz]

I've tried most all of the above mentioned b&w filters, yellow being my

favourite for a slight increase in shaddow/sun contrast and for its

"fifties'-retro"-look in portraits (may-be due to difference in former

emulsions?). Nevertheless, I practically dropped using any filter

except for the polarizer and a neutral density filter to reduce depth

of field. Both are very effective for b&w as well as color.