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.

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.

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?

TIA for your thoughts.

-- Jim Reed (jimreed@aol.com), December 18, 2001

Answers

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

-- Dave Jenkins (djphoto@vol.com), December 18, 2001.

orange and green are my choices also.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), December 18, 2001.

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).

-- Chris Chen (furcafe@cris.com), December 18, 2001.

another vote for yellow, orange and green. the only ones I ever bought and use.

-- Philip Woodcock (phil@pushbar.demon.co.uk), December 18, 2001.

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.

Johannes

-- Johannes Fleischhauer (j.fleischhauer@vsao.ch), December 18, 2001.

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.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), December 18, 2001.

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.

-- Richard Saylor (rlsaylor@ix.netcom.com), December 19, 2001.

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.

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), December 20, 2001.