This post could be considered this an analog companion to Monday’s post that was about digital filters for black and white photography. and also features a photograph of a hot rod. I haven’t posted any Stupid Photographer’s Tricks recently, so here’s one that happened at a car show.
Today’s Post by Joe Farace
The low rider drives a little slower, Low rider is a real goer–War (song lyrics)
For some time, I’ve been writing a series of posts called Stupid Photographer’s Tricks that for some reason, usually involves me photographing attractive women. But that’s not always the case; sometime my stupidity involves me photographing other subjects including cars.
The first Good Guys car show I attended was held at Pikes Peak International Raceway and Mary and I went with some friends. I brought along my Canon !D Mark II N and a couple pf lenses, including an EF 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 II lens and an EF 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 EF-S.that I later sold, although, in hindsight, I wished I hadn’t. (That’s another Stupid Photographer’s Trick I wish I didn’t do at the time.)
Meanwhile…At A Car Show
When it comes to the practice of using UV or Skylight camera filters for lens protection, there are those photographers who love them and those that hate them. Most purists don’t like to use any kind of filter because they don’t want anything coming between reality and the image on their film or sensor. During this particular time that was also my attitude but not afterwards. Filter fans typically don’t worry about resolution charts, they like to have fun with their photography and are more concerned abut protecting their often expensive equipment.
How I Made this Photo: Since the event was held at a race track, the organizers allowed many of the cars to make a few parade laps, so Mary and I stood near the exit road to the pits and made some images of the cars coming off the high banking. I photographed this group of hot rods with a Canon !D Mark II N and an EF 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 II lens at 105mm. The exposure was 1/250 sec at f/11 and ISO 100 with a minus one-stop exposure compensation.
For a short time, I was persuaded by the perfectionist’s argument against filters and was walking around the show with that EF 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 EF-S lens attached to my camera. While strolling through the trade show, the front element of my lens came in contact with a wire rack that was displaying products I was interested in. S-c-r-a-t-c-h. Yes, it was my fault and was a Stupid Photographer’s Trick for sure with the emphasis on “stupid.” That was the end of my flirtation with optical perfection.
If you’re on the fence about this topic, here are a few reasons to think about for using camera filters for protection.
- When working under difficult environmental conditions, such as blowing dust or sand, the right filter will protect your expensive camera lens.
- A UV filter can helpful when you’re photographing mountain and marine scenes and can reduce atmospheric haze and any unwanted bluish color casts that can be caused by ultraviolet light at high altitudes
- Specialized filters such as UV-Haze 2A offer maximum cutting power in bright, high-altitude snow fields.
- A UV, Skylight or Protection filter can prevent you from a spontaneous outbreak of stupidity.
And like the lens I wrecked that was described in my first Stupid Photographer’s Tricks I later sold the lens on eBay, describing the scratch with close-up photos, and surprisingly didn’t take too big of a hit.
If you enjoyed today’s blog post and would like to treat Joe to a cup of Earl Grey tea ($3.50, Starbucks raised the price of Earl Grey), click here. And if you do, many thanks.