A red lens filter is a colored piece of glass or resin that modifies the light entering a camera's lens. They are designed to change the balance of colors in a photograph, often to achieve a specific effect or mood. The main uses of red lens filters in photography include:
- Black and White Photography: In black-and-white photography, red filters can darken the sky and enhance contrast. They particularly affect green and blue tones, making these colours appear darker, and emphasize red tones.
- Infrared Photography: The filter blocks most visible light and only allows infrared and some red light through, which can result in some dramatic and surreal images.
- Enhancing Contrast: Red filters intensify red colors while reducing the appearance of blue and green in your images. This characteristic is advantageous in landscape photography, where you can adjust the contrasts of a blue sky with clouds.
- Color Accent: When used in color photography, a red filter can introduce a dramatic effect by making red subjects pop.
Note: The use of colored filters in digital photography is less common because many of the same effects can be created in post-production software like Adobe Photoshop. However, some photographers still prefer the distinctive look these filters provide, particularly for black and white photography.
Learn more:
- What Are Camera Lens Filters and What Do They Do?
- A Guide to Filters for Lenses