Advice please on filters for a photoshoot

[Spooky]

Hello everyone

I am doing a model shoot this friday for a young lady for her portfolio. I am not charging her anything so there is no pressure over money but I want to do a good job.

It will primarily be a beach bikini shoot.

Last time I did a beach shoot I had trouble using fill flash because of the high intensity of the light exceeded the D70's ability (the flash sync speed limit) to expose the images automatically. I know I can do it manually but would prefer the camera to take care of it so I can concentrate on other things. I have numbered my questions so they stand out over my explanations.

Question 1
Is it worth using a neutral density filter to overcome this problem?


I have also read about polarisers being good for beach and water type work but have never tried one.

Question 2
Is it worth having a polariser filter for this sort of job?

Question 3
Do circular polarisers affect the whole image equally or do they have a graduated effect?

I normally use a standard UV filter on my lenses.

Question 4
Do I take this UV filter off while using other filters like neutral density or polariser?

Question 5
If I have several filters on does it matter what order they are in?

Question 6
If I should use any or some of the above filters what are the brands you would recommend and where is the best place to source them?


Thanks for your help

[marcotrov]

Spooky
Definetly a polariser particularly if you've missed the golden hour in the morning. I'd probably try open shade a large umbrella for some close in shots. Maybe a gold/silver/white reflector instead of the flash.
cheers
marco

[Michael]

If you can't source a propper reflector for the shoot go to the newsagents and get a $1 piece of white cardboard to reflect light of, It works suprisingly well.

It's what i carry around in my gear back rolled up incase of unfavourable lighting.

[avkomp]

I have watched quite a few sports illustrated swimsuit calendar making specials.

Apart from the obvious reason to watch these sorts of shows, you get heaps of insight into how they make the particular shots.

In just about every case you will find the swimsuit/beach shots taken with the model doing whatever but with an assistant on either side of the model out of camera holding a reflector. In day work I cant remember seeing them using a flash.

As suggested earlier, even a piece of cardboard works ok.
in another thread ages ago, it was suggested that one of those cheap reflectors you can by for a car windsreen works well. Never tried this myself but it sounds feasable.


As for filters, a polariser would be of benefit.
Steve

[Spooky]

Thanks for the ideas so far. I have a mutli reflector (Gold, silver, white) which I was going to try using as well. Will have to take the wife down as an assistant. That way she can keep an eye on me as well.

Where is the best place to purchase polarisers?

[leek]

Thanks for the ideas so far. I have a mutli reflector (Gold, silver, white) which I was going to try using as well. Will have to take the wife down as an assistant. That way she can keep an eye on me as well.

Where is the best place to purchase polarisers?

The same place that's best to buy everything else... Birddog... But not sure whether he'd be able to get them to you by Friday...

[Spooky]

I didn't know Birdy did filters.

I am looking at the Hoya Super HMC. I hear it is difficult to clean the multi coated filters. Any experiences with them?

[wendellt]

I didn't know Birdy did filters.

I am looking at the Hoya Super HMC. I hear it is difficult to clean the multi coated filters. Any experiences with them?

multicoated filters just has beter light transmission properties
all you need is a hoya ultra ultra thin circular polarizer the ultra thin series has a built in uv filter too so you don't need to stack the filter over your current uv filter.

If you model is standing behind the sun, a reflector just balances the light so if reflected onto her front you get a look like the sun is facing her.

if you want to duim the background like the work of jez smith on http://www.2c.com.au/

you need a portable strobe light and a d2x so you can get over the 1/250 shutter limit and shoot high shutter like 1/2000 that way you can darken the background and the strobe illuminates the model from the front and you get a sexy high contrast shot

[stubbsy]

multicoated filters just has beter light transmission properties
all you need is a hoya ultra ultra thin circular polarizer the ultra thin series has a built in uv filter too so you don't need to stack the filter over your current uv filter.

Wendell - UV isn't an issue for DSLRs only for film. You use a UV filter to protect the lens from damage (better to break a $50 filter than a $500 or $5,000 lens). That's it. Stacking filters can lead to excessive vignetting.

Brett - get a CP filter and maybe even an ND (see this comparison with & without ND)

[Spooky]

Cheers everyone for your input.

[lejazzcat]

If you model is standing behind the sun, a reflector just balances the light so if reflected onto her front you get a look like the sun is facing her.

If she's standing behind the sun, youll need a bloody long lens !

As for the UV, wipe some spF60+ onto the front element, that should do the trick !

[wendellt]

If you model is standing behind the sun, a reflector just balances the light so if reflected onto her front you get a look like the sun is facing her.

If she's standing behind the sun, youll need a bloody long lens !

As for the UV, wipe some spF60+ onto the front element, that should do the trick !

whoa...I need some sleep or food.
I meant if she is backlit by the sun, a portable strobe light should illuminate her quite well, instead of using a flash unit.