Red filters and B&W photos

So here's a question for you all. Now if I'm shooting my photos in color and afterwards in Photoshop converting my photos to B&W would even using a red filter be helpful to darkening the skies before post processing? Or would I be better off just taking the photos in B&W?

I did an experiment at one time with the good old B&W filters I had from my film days. I shot in both color and desaturated modes and found the filters din not have th same effect as they did on film. I had more latitude working with them in Photosop ACR after I desturated them by using the color channels. With the filtered shots I still had to play with them to get the same effects. Also for darker skies I still find a Circual Polarizer as the best tool for photos you plan on converting to B&W. I always shoot in color then desturate then adjust the color channels no better way IMO.

Another vote for shooting in color, then transform into B&W with the color channels.

Shoot in color (with or without polarizer), then convert in PS.. I've had the best luck using the Adjustments>Black&White option.. with control slider for RGB as well as CMY I can tweak the values more than I've been able to with Channels.. just a personal preference..

Here's a good article on the subject.....
photo.net/equipment/digital/editing/bwconvert/

Joves method is the one I use and yes I always shoot in clour

Joves wrote: I did an experiment at one time with the good old B&W filters I had from my film days. I shot in both color and desaturated modes and found the filters din not have th same effect as they did on film. I had more latitude working with them in Photosop ACR after I desturated them by using the color channels. With the filtered shots I still had to play with them to get the same effects. Also for darker skies I still find a Circual Polarizer as the best tool for photos you plan on converting to B&W. I always shoot in color then desturate then adjust the color channels no better way IMO.

Fascinating response!

You should do some personal testing, and see which method you like better.

I know a guy who insists that he gets better results using the filters on camera. He's shooting raw so he still ends up with a color photo, although it's all red, and then converts to BW in Adobe Camera Raw. Personally I think he hasn't practiced digital processing enough, but if it's not his cup of tea, then using the filter on camera is the right way for him.

In my own personal testing I felt there was no doubt that I could achieve the same effects as the on-camera filter in processing, and with a lot more control. I'm not stuck with a red #25. I can have a slight variation. Even better, using masks I can apply a red 25 to the sky, some other filtering over here, and yet a third (or more) filter over there.

One thing I noticed using orange and red filters on the camera is that the blue channel gets really noisy. I was just pixel peeping, and not making prints, so I don't know if it's really a problem. The guy I mentioned above says he doesn't have problems with it.

I've got a big, old filter wallet full of filters I used when I shot film. Since switching to digital the only ones I use anymore is the circ pol, and occasionally the NDs.

Henry Peach wrote: You should do some personal testing, and see which method you like better.

I know a guy who insists that he gets better results using the filters on camera. He's shooting raw so he still ends up with a color photo, although it's all red, and then converts to BW in Adobe Camera Raw. Personally I think he hasn't practiced digital processing enough, but if it's not his cup of tea, then using the filter on camera is the right way for him.

In my own personal testing I felt there was no doubt that I could achieve the same effects as the on-camera filter in processing, and with a lot more control. I'm not stuck with a red #25. I can have a slight variation. Even better, using masks I can apply a red 25 to the sky, some other filtering over here, and yet a third (or more) filter over there.

One thing I noticed using orange and red filters on the camera is that the blue channel gets really noisy. I was just pixel peeping, and not making prints, so I don't know if it's really a problem. The guy I mentioned above says he doesn't have problems with it.

I've got a big, old filter wallet full of filters I used when I shot film. Since switching to digital the only ones I use anymore is the circ pol, and occasionally the NDs.

Have you looked into Nik Software's Silver program?