[pct-l] digital trail cameras

[cmkudija at earthlink.net (cmkudija@earthlink.net)]

Um, actually, I've used filters (polarizing, UV, red, etc) with a film SLR
camera (Olympus OM-1, acquired in '77) prior to breaking the camera body
(sniff) and evolving to the digital world several years ago.  I do
understand why they're helpful with film - but was simply wondering if they
were equally beneficial to the digital camera experience.  You've clarified
this in saying "but you can't always duplicate what a filter will do when
used correctly in the field.  Very few of the images on my site were pushed
with software, a few were balanced for contrast."     Then again, you also
said, "software has the potential to do incredible things to images."

Indeed it does.  It  turns out that in Photoshop & Photoshop Elements that
you can emphasize the hue - whether pushing the reds or the blues or
whatever - in a photograph, as well as turn the whole photo into black &
white for an Ansel Adams experience.  However, there may be a difference in
shooting the original image and capturing whatever modified data comes
through the filter that makes later editing even more successful.  I guess
I'll just have to scare the moths out of my wallet and find out.

Thanks for the feedback & the link.

Christine "Ceanothus" Kudija
PCT partially '94

www.pcta.org
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-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net]On Behalf Of Deems
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 7:40 PM
To: pct
Subject: [pct-l] digital trail cameras

Filters are a simple tool to control the wavelengths of light entering the
lens, before it is recorded on film or pixels. With filters, I am able to
see the final image before it is recorded, instead of waiting to alter the
files on a pc or the film in a darkroom. A camera that can accept filters
will give greater control of the light and image as it's recorded, but you
need to know what you want to the image to look like first. I generally see
the final picture in my mind, before I take it.  Polarizers cancel glare on
water, cut haze in skies, and enhance the blue of the sky. The split neutral
density filter can mask a bright portion of the image, while allowing the
darker half to remain unchanged. The red enhancer allows red objects to be
brighter, but not change all the other colors. This filter is great at
sunset, sunrise, with alpenglow, and with fall colors. Filters can sometimes
just be a personal choice, but I prefer cameras that can use them over ones
that won't. You can still use software at home, but you can't always
duplicate what a filter will do when used correctly in the field.  Very few
of the images on my site were pushed with software, a few were balanced for
contrast.  I used filters for 30 years with Kodachrome, so it's a habit I
can't easily break.  I must admit tho, software has the potential to do
incredible things to images, has a high learning curve, and I know very
little about that area.  Here's a good website to study filters.
http://www.dantestella.com/technical/filterama.html
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Question - why are filters useful for a digital camera, compared to editing
the photo on the computer, using Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, or other
editing software?  Just wondering - and keeping an eye out for the next
camera.  I'm particularly interested in one that can do both macro and
landscape photos - without interchangeable lenses.  I perhaps ask too much?

Christine "Ceanothus" Kudija
PCT partially '94


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