Filter tests for long exposure, unusual, infrared

Long Exposure Filter Tests

Filter tests or what happens when I find myself out with a new Hoya R72 infrared filter, a Lee big stopper filter and a piece of shade 10 welding glass.
If you want to see any of the images larger just “Right click” them and select “View Image” in FireFox or “open image in new tab” in chrome and safari!
Internet Explorer does not follow normal web standards and this option is missing.

The filter tests

Original – unprocessed
Original scene

Original scene
ISO 100 f/13 1/60second 40mm

Lee Big Stopper
Original
 

Processed
Original from bi

Original from big stopper
iso 100 f/18 24seconds 40mm

processed from big stopper

processed from big stopper
iso 100 f/18

Welding Glass
shade 10
Original
 

Processed
Welding glass original

Welding glass original
iso 100 f/8 45 seconds 40mm

Welding glass processed

Welding glass processed
iso 100 f/8 45 seconds 40mm

Infrared
Hoya R72
Original
 

Processed
Infrared original

Infrared original
iso 800 f/8 44 seconds 40mm

Infrared processed
iso 800 f/8 44 seconds 40mm

I was out testing my newly acquired Hoya Infrared R72 filter from Vistek .
When I decided to also test out how a piece of shade 10 welding glass (8$) would handle the scene when used as a long exposure filter, something I had read about on other sites.
A use it definitely was not intended for.

All image processing was done in Adobe CC LightRoom 5

The first image pair for comparison is from a Lee Big Stopper 10 stop neutral density filter.

As expected the color from this excellent filter was very good to start with, and color correction and processing was very easy.

The second image pair is from the shade 10 welding glass.

It is not intended for passing true color and it introduced a very strong green cast that was fairly difficult but not impossible to semi color correct.
The glass does alter and remove some of the light spectrum so getting to a true color balance my be tricky to next to impossible
It however is passable and at 8$ could be used in a pinch for anyone wanting to try out long exposure photography before deciding on spending the 150$ or so for the real thing.
The shade 10 welding glass also appears to be about 3 to 4 stops darker than the real 10 stop photo filter.
As such initially calculating exposure was completely hit and miss using the histogram to get to something passable.

The third image pair is from the Hoya R72 infrared filter.

It cuts out most of the entire visible light spectrum and thus cannot be color corrected at all.
Resulting images must be processed as monochromes. False color image can be produced with appropriate post processing techniques.
High point of an infrared filter is it works best in the hot mid day sun, when normal photography produces lackluster images.

Attaching the shade 10 welding glass

NOTE: if you try this we are not responsible for anything at all that might happen.
It is easy if you have a petal lens hood, we just used a couple of rubber bands!
Just be very careful not to touch and damage the front element of your lens with the welding glass if you decide to try this,
it is much safer to first mount a cheap UV filter to the lens to protect it from any accidental contact with the heavy glass.

Attaching welding glass

mounting welding glass, with rubber bands
mounting welding glass with rubber bands

mounting welding glass with rubber bands

mounting welding glass with rubber bands

mounting welding glass with rubber bands

In the next image set I included an x-rite colorchecker passport (really helps with getting images color corrected!) to try to show the effects of the deep green filtration.
If you examine the color chiclets closely you will see that some of them have gone very dark indicating the colors that have been completely removed by the filter,
which makes getting back to a accurate color balance very difficult if not impossible.

Color corecting welding glass

Original
no filters
welding glassprocessed
base image no filter

base image no filter

Welding glass original

Welding glass original

Welding glass processed

Welding glass processed

Algonquin Provincial Park – Canada’s amazing park system

Algonquin Park

Algonquin park lake in morning fog

Established in 1893,  Algonquin Park is the oldest provincial park in Canada.
Located only a 3 hour drive north of Toronto, Ontario the park provides a wilderness experience that is easily accessed from Southern Ontario.
Encompassing about 7,653 square kilometres (2,955 sq mi), it contains over 2,000 kilometres of back country canoe routes connecting  thousands of its pristine lakes.

Providing for any level of outdoors actives.
From the “civilised city” camper. With eight campgrounds and fourteen hiking trails. That provide easy access for the car camper arriving with tent or trailer. Some even providing electrical hookup along the Highway 60 corridor.

To the skilled outdoors person. With 29 different entry points allowing access to the thousands of kilometers of back-country canoeing and hiking. For overnight and multi day use a back-country permit is required. And you will need to show your approved camp stove to the warden before entering.  There is also a complete bottle and can ban in effect in the back-country.

The park is home to an active and healthy black bear population. As well as wolf packs and fox requiring good back-country skills for those traversing its rugged landscape.
Algonquin with 272 recorded bird species, some residents some migrants, is also a haven for the ornithologist!
Not to forget mentioning spotting the occasional elusive moose!

Located in an area of transition between northern coniferous forest and southern deciduous forest the park is along the “border” between Northern Ontario and Southern Ontario. For the landscape enthusiast the park provides excellent diverse scenery in all seasons, especially in the fall when the trees along the highway 60 corridor turn to an amazing riot of colors.

The park boasts a large visitors centre located at Km 43 containing a shop, restaurant, museum and a viewing platform overlooking several lakes. As well as a Logging museum at Km 54.5.
WiFi is available only at the visitors centre,  and fortunately in most places cell phones still do not have a signal allowing for a quiet peaceful time while visiting.

Whether you are car camping or going back-country I highly rate the park and can only recommend it.
It is well worth the visit!

You can find out more about the park and make your camp reservation at Ontario Parks

For updates and news about the park visit the Friends of Algonquin Park FOAP

There is also an excellent Art Gallery at Km 20 on Highway 60 inside the park boundaries, it is well worth a visit. Entrance to the gallery is by donation, which helps fund it operations.

Enjoy your stay!