In anticipation of a colorfull fall, which we probably won't have in NJ due to a drought, and for other reasons, I just purchased a Singh-Ray Intensifier combined with a Polarizer. Would the combination of this and Velvia be too saturated? I could always go to Provia but really like Velvia.

I realize this all depends on personal opinion, but was looking for some feedback anyway.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

-- Mike (michael.kear@ey.com), September 01, 1999

Answers

I dont care for the intensifiers, personally. Velvia is pretty intense by itself. Maybe you should try shooting one shot with it, and another without it. This will reveal whether you want to use it or not.

-- Ron Shaw (shaw9@llnl.gov), September 01, 1999.

I think you'll find that Velvia doesn't need intensifying. A polarizer will work fine on any glare you'll get from the leaves.

-- Jim Bridges (jcbejb@worldnet.att.net), September 01, 1999.

Velvia does not need a filter. Many people refer to it as "Disneychrome" because of its garish color palette. Stacking an intensifier and a polarizer in fromt of Velvia wil only lead to grotesquely oversaturated colors.

Which leads me to your proposl to use two filters. This is a mistake. Filters are tools to help correct problems, such as using a warming filter to balance the blue light in shdows during the day, or using a polarizing filter to cut reflections or glare. When you start using filters injudiciously, such as stacking an intensifier and a polarizer in front of Velvia, they becomes crutches; ill-concived attempts to make up for a lack of vision or the inability to get out of bed early enough to catch the best light.

Leave the filters in your bag unless you have a specific need for the polarizer. If you need the intensifier, well, you should have gotten out of bed earlier.

-- Darron Spohn (sspohn@concentric.net), September 02, 1999.

I differ from the above posts. There are "certain" instances where RVP and intensifiers work very well together. You definitely can't use them on all shots but intensifiers can help. I guess I must of learned the improper definition of "Filter Use", I never knew that filters should only be used for correctional purposes and not creativity! Maybe painters should be told not to use certain brushes, colors, canvas types etc. By the way, guys like Jonh Shaw, Daryl Benson and so on use intensifiers whenever they deem necessary but then "who the hell are they"???????

-- Pete (bowrod@sympatico.ca), September 03, 1999.

Pete, my point was "When you start using filters injudiciously, such as stacking an intensifier and a polarizer in front of Velvia, they becomes crutches..."

That is a lot different than using them as creative tools. Mike's question was would that combination become too saturated? The answer is yes.

Mike, stick with the Velvia and get out of bed early enough to leave the intensifier in your bag. Use it judiciously and you'll get good results. Use it in front of or behind your polarizer and you may as well scan your slides and use a neon filter on PhotoShop.

And you're right, this is all a matter of personal opinion. Mine is as valid as John Shaw's, but each opinion is only valid for our individual goals and styles. BTW, what size film are you shooting?

-- Darron Spohn (sspohn@concentric.net), September 03, 1999.

I have just been reading Joseph K. Lange's book, "How To Photograph Landscapes" (ISBN 0-8117-2456-5). Mr. Lange uses an intensifier and a polarizer with Velvia for almost every photograph. He finds that Velvia tends to emphasize greens more than other colors, which makes a blue sky somewhat cyan in color. Mr. Lange uses the intensifier to color-correct the sky back to a truer blue color. He uses the polarizer just as many folks use a UV or skylight filter, as well as the usual reasons. The pictures in his book are incredible. However, many of his pictures are of the Southwest, which tend to look better with the reds enhanced. Whether you agree in theory with Mr. Lange's use of filters, you can't argue with his results. The pictures are beautiful!

As usual, the use of filters is a very personal choice. The best thing to do is to take pictures with and without the filters, and to then determine which situations *you* feel the filters are needed or desired.

Miles

-- Miles T. Smith (miles.t.smith@erols.com), September 04, 1999.

My 2 cents. BTW I have the same filters and shoot the same subjects. Try this. Shoot velvia at 50. then bracket your shots. First without filters then with the intensifier and then with both the intensifier and polariser. The key to good use of filters is that a viewer should not be able to pick it. the intensifier also colors the sky and clouds and is very easy to pick. use with caution. great when it works though. After a roll or two, with good notes!!! you will know your own likes.

Cheers

-- Bill Wyman (Bill.Wyman@utas.edu.au), September 05, 1999.