Color Correction Filters for Night Photography

[2F/2F]

Color correcting B/w will not result in much of a benefit. Thoughtful use of an ND grad or split can help if the sidewalks and streets are receiving significantly more light than the buildings.

...and with b/w or color you can always gel practicals, lamps, and windows with ND to more closely balance their intensities.

[wildbill]

Most of tom's night work is 4x5. I know he uses some filtration from time to time. He usually shoots daylight fujifilm.
http://www.tompaiva.com/



vinny

[jd callow]

Not to diminish Tom's work in the least, but it is fairly easy/common for Arch photog's to shoot buildings at late dusk/early morning with daylight balanced neg film. Depending on the time of year and latitude there is a period of time where the colour is still very rich, but just dark enough to be night. Under the enlarger or in PS you dial the yellow, mag channels to get softer manmade light and push the blues a bit bluer.

[jd callow]

I am no expert with B/W but you can also dilute the developer, reduce agitation and extend the development time to restrain the highlights. Personally my eye/brain has no issue with blown out lights in night shots as long as they are not too blown out or dominant. One thing about using filters at night is that they can catch side lights and produce flare.

[John Koehrer]

You really don't need CC filters with B&W film. Most of the earlier posts were applicable to color & not pertinent to what you're doing.
If you want to do nighttime with color films that's something else. Try shooting with both daylight balance and tungsten balance film just to play with.

[lilmsmaggie]

You really don't need CC filters with B&W film.

what about contrast control during exposure? At Mondavi, I had a lot of vehicle traffic because its near the extrance to the U.C. Davis campus.

I got the negs back but haven't had time to examine them. I did notice that the contact sheet had several frames that appear to be blown out. Not sure why, except maybe headlights from passing traffic both in and off campus.

How do I control contrast when there are lights in the frame?

[Sirius Glass]

Black & white do not need color correcting filters.

For color, I do not correct the reciprocity failure; it is part of the charm.

Steve