Maud Foster, photographic filters and sails

click photo to enlarge
There was a time, from the late 1970s to some time in the 1990s when my Olympus OM1n's lens, usually a 50mm 1.8, but sometimes a 135mm 2.8, was rarely seen without a yellow, orange or red filter screwed on to it. For my personal (as opposed to family) photography, I did a lot of black and white work, and the boost in contrast that this gave to Ilford FP4 suited me fine. I occasionally fitted one to my little Ricoh 500RF but I more usually shot colour - Fujichrome and Ektachrome - with that camera, so a polarising filter suited it best. One of the pleasures of the change from film to digital is the ability to mimic the effect of a one of these filters after a colour shot has been converted to black and white. Today's main photograph shows just that. In this instance the digital equivalent of a yellow filter has been applied. This won't be to the liking of some purists, but I'm very happy with it.

I've photographed the Maud Foster windmill in Boston, Lincolnshire, several times and posted a few of my better shots on the blog. It's named after the big agricultural drain on whose bank it stands, and is one of the most attractive mills that I know - elegant, tall, with lovely brick and interesting ancillary buildings. On this occasion, however, it wasn't its overall appeal that I reflected on; I got to thinking about its sails. It is relatively unusual in having 5, an odd number. An even number of sails was more often favoured, usually 4, 6 or 8, because with this configuration, the argument goes, opposing sails can be removed for repair or maintenance and the windmill retains balance. Now, for reasons that I find hard to put into words I find 5 sails very visually satisfying. Better than the four that is most often seen, and better too than six - which I don't dislike. Definitely an improvement on eight, a number that makes a windmill look like a desk fan - yes Heckington windmill, I'm thinking of you. Perhaps its the anthropomorphic form of the 5-sailer that appeals - a reminder of Leonardo's Vitruvian man. As I say, I can't articulate these likes and dislikes particularly well, any more than I can account for my preferring a two button jacket over a three button version, but it's definitely how I see things.

photograph and text © Tony Boughen

Photo 1
Camera: Sony RX100
Mode: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 10.4mm (28mm - 35mm equiv.)
F No: f7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/400
ISO: 125
Exposure Compensation:  -0.3 EV
Image Stabilisation: On

Graduated filters

click photo to enlarge
During my rummaging in my photographic equipment (see yesterday's post) I came across a collection of filters that I no longer use much. There were various Hoya skylight filters that had been bought to protect lenses with filter sizes that I no longer own; red, orange, yellow and green filters for black and white work; a couple of polarizing filters, one of which gets occasional use; and a Cokin filter holder with a few adapters so that it can be used on a variety of lenses. To complement this there were several square, plastic filters to fit in it. These included neutral density and graduated filters, and must date from about twenty five years ago. Maybe it's time to move them on!

When I was photographing a semi-abstract that involved angles the blue/orange graduated filter came to mind, and, though it felt like stepping into my photographic past, I fitted it to the lens for a couple of shots. It nearly did what I wanted, but, rotate the holder as I might, I couldn't distribute the colours in what I considered to be the best way. Consequently I processed my shot using a digital equivalent of a blue/orange graduated filter and got precisely the effect I desired. And perhaps that's why my collection of filters has languished, largely unused, since I started using a digital camera. The requirement for filters remains, but their implementation can be done much more conveniently and effectively using a computer. I'm aware that there are those who would strongly disagree with this statement, but as someone who used glass (and plastic) filters regularly (though not heavily) for many years, I know which I prefer.

Today's image shows the filtered shot I took. It's a composition that is based on a stack of glass placemats, each of which has a built-in pocket for a photograph, making them customisable. They were bought for me as a present. Now there's an idea for Christmas for the photographer in your life!

photograph & text (c) T. Boughen

Camera: Olympus E510
Mode: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 35 macro (70mm/35mm equiv.)
F No: f6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/50
ISO: 100
Exposure Compensation: -0.7 EV
Image Stabilisation: On