Chapter 26

Special Effects With Creative Effects Filters

Creative Effects Filters Kit consisting of F101, F102, F103,
F104, F105 filters and the filter holder, is an essential tool
which will be instrumental for you with which to enter a
fascinating world of the special effects. There are endless
opportunities exist for those, who desire to make instant picture
photography more fun, using these filters.
a)F104 and F105 filters were used to create these photos on
the right. Compare them to those on the left -- the original
images. Whether you desire to produce a dramatic zoom effect,
reduce reflections in order to be able to better see your
subject/scene behind a shop-window glass, to enhance colors,
surround your subject with an orange glow, create a double image,
produce warmer colors while photographing in shade or do much
more creativity wise instantly, using Polaroid made Creative
Effects Filters is the best choice to achieve that. The filters
kit consisting of Filter Holder F106, Orange Center Spot Filter
F107, Diffusing Surround Filter F108, Warming Filter F109,
Polarizing Filter F110, Double-Image Adapter Fill, and Carrying Case, is a great way to enter a fascinating world of the special
effect instant picture photography. The booklet provided with the
filters kit will explain to you how to attach the filters to your
camera, so it will be easy for you to use the filters.
Here, I will introduce and give you some tips on how you can
come up with the best results using your Creative Effects
Filters. I will also show you some photos that are examples on
how and in which order the filters could be used in order to get
the most use out of them.
b)Orange Center Spot Filter F107
Do not aim the camera's lens toward the sun, it can
permanently damage your eye-sight.
If you ever desired putting your favorite person, pet, any
other subject or a scene in the "spotlight", to add a warm,
sunlit quality to an everyday scene, or simply highlight the
action, this is the window of opportunity for you. This filter
can be used in both locations: outdoors and indoors. When using
this filter, sliding it in to the filter holder, it is important
to utilize the slot closest to the camera's lens. Take the utmost
care to carefully compose your photo, since the effect created by
the usage of this filter can not be seen through the camera's
viewfinder. Position your subject in the center of the picture
area's frame, choosing uncluttered and simple light-colored
backgrounds, in order for the orange glow to be clearly visible
in the finished photograph, as in this photo. When you are taking
pictures indoors, it is advisable to use the plain light-colored
walls, curtains or even the bed sheets as a choice of the
background. Outdoors light-colored backgrounds could be chosen
using the same principle, that you want the orange glow to
appear prominently. Whether it is a brightly lit fence, hay,
sand, water, snow, ice, or simply the sky above you, using this
filter creatively the dramatic highlighting will allow for a
spectically marvelous special effect in your picture.
c)Diffusing Surround Filter F108
Do not aim the camera's lens toward the sun or other
extremely bright object. Streaking the colors and surrounding
your subject objects, the diffusing surround filter F108 is
designed to produce an astonishing zoom effect, leaving the
center of the image to remain sharp, unaffected and untouched by
the filter's magic, as you can see in this photo. Using this
filter you can take a picture of the back of a still car, as it
was done in this photo, and make it look as though the car is
moving passing by.
Sliding this filter into the filter-holder, always try to use
the slot that is closest to the lens. Since the effect produced
by this filter can not be visualized when looking through the
viewfinder, it is advisable to carefully compose your subject or
scene, no matter whether the filter is used indoors or outdoors.
to enhance the filter's effect, use bright multicolored
backgrounds capable of producing more interest to your main
subject by adding the kaleidoscope of streaking colors to it.
d)Warming Filter F109
This filter produces warmer skin colors and truer overall
colors in your scenic pictures by being capable of absorbing theblue cast present in shade or on heavily cloudy day. Using the
slot closest to the lens and sliding the filter into it, you
should always position this filter so that the part that is not
in the holder is to the right, or in other words, on the flash
side of the camera.
e)Polarizing Filter F110.
Do not use this filter indoors, since it is designed for the
outdoors use only. You can improve colors in your picture when
using this filter by reducing unwanted glare from a horizontal
reflective surface be it the hood of a car, wet pavement, a glass
table top, water or any other highly reflective surface. This
filter also can saturate colors in your photo. Here, the same
river was photographed with and without the filter: the picture
of the dam was shot without the filter, while the Polarizing
Filter was used in the next photo of its shore line shot in the
Fall. Comparing to each other these two photographs could be a
good example of the filter's ability to saturate colors in your
pictures. The one on the left was shot without the filter and the
one on the right with. Notice the difference in color. The filter
is designed to be used outdoors in bright sunlight only. If you
hold this filter up to your eye and slowly rotate it from the
horizontal to the vertical position, you will be able to
determine whether you should hold your camera horizontally or
vertically to achieve the best polarizing effect from the filter
attached to your lens. Notice in what position the reflection
gets darker and use that position when taking a picture. Slide
this filter into the filter holder so that the part remaining
outside is to the right, or in other words, on the flash side of
the camera, using the slot closest to the lens.
f ) Double-Image Adapter
You can have fun by creating a double or even triple image of
the same subject in a variety of comical or creative poses using
this adapter. First expose one part of the film, and then another
part or two, depending upon whether you are after a double or
triple image. The whole procedure to achieve the effect must be
done while the film remains in the camera. By gripping the
adapter by the tab, tilt the adapter's top towards the camera and
fit it into the groove located above the camera's lens. Swing the
double-image adapter down, after which push the tab in to snap
the adapter into the space beneath the lens. Make sure that the
adapter is removed by gripping the tab and pulling it up, before
closing the camera. Expose one portion of the film after gripping
the tab and sliding it all the way or one third of the way to one
side, depending upon whether you are creating a double or triple
exposure, framing the scene or the subject while looking at it
through the viewfinder. While some instant film camera models
such as the Minolta Instant PRO is, require you to "press the
mode button until you see the multiple exposure symbol, press the
up or down control button to turn on the feature, press the mode
button once. The number two will start flashing. You must now
decide how many exposures you want to take: if you want to take two
exposures, press the mode button once more. The number two will
stop flashing and the camera will return to the full display,
indicating that you can now take two exposures. If you want to take

more than two exposures, press the up control button to increase
the exposures to... Then press the mode button to return to the
full display". Install your double-image adapter as it has been
described above. "Frame your picture in the viewfinder and press
the shutter button to take the first exposure. The film will stay
in the camera and the digital display will show how many
exposures you have left to take." Slide your adapter along the
groove to the opposite side, covering another part(s) of the same
frame. After framing the next image in the view-finder, press the
shutter button once again. Repeat this procedure for each
exposure. After you have taken the last exposure the camera will
eject the picture. Some other cameras with less manual
capabilities such as the Polaroid Spectra SE, will require you to
press and firmly hold the shutter button all the way down in
order to delay ejecting the picture from the camera. You will
need to slide the self-timer switch down while holding the
shutter button down, temporarily getting the camera stopped from
operating. If you have released the shutter button, you have
exposed one portion of the film. Holding the film door, and thus
preventing it from getting opened, press and release the film
door button, after which you will hear the camera beeping. In
order to stop your camera from beeping right away move the self-
timer switch up. In order to expose the other portions, or if you
will, parts of the film, again as in the previous examples, you
need to grip the tab, and then slide the adapter along the
groove, all the way, or a half way to the other side of the lens'
front, depending upon the quantity of exposures you need and the
available for that room, or how much off the full frame remains
left. After composing your subject or scene in the viewfinder,
press the shutter button all the way down, and then release it
quickly, allowing the camera to eject a double or triple-image
picture. In order to achieve the best results for the indoor
photography be with your camera 2 to 10 feet(6m to 3m) away from
your subject or scene). Sometimes, the distance reading in the
viewfinder, which is built into some of the Polaroid instant film
cameras, will help you remain within this range. It is advisable,
even though it is not necessary in all of the situations, to
employ a tripod, especially on those occasions when a combination
of both: a long time, and a multiple exposures is desired.
Creating a multiple exposure image, you should be aware of the
fact that the plain backgrounds will work for you best if you are
not employing the tripod. Though, it is recommended using the
tripod if there are objects, bold patterns, or specific shapes
of an ornament in the background, that require a perfect
alignment of all the multiple parts of your multi-exposure. Also,
you can make adjustments to your exposure, turning the flash on
or off by either sliding the flash switch up or down, or in such
systems as Minolta Instant PRO, by pressing the mode button
until your camera's LCD display shows you only the lighten/Darken
symbol. Press the up or down control button, depending upon
whether you need more or less light in your multiple image.
Press the mode button once again to be able to return to the full
display. Notice, that the more exposures you make on the same
film, the less light in each of them is needed, Decrease approximately in half your flash's light output, or the shooting
distance to your subject, each time you add a new exposure.
Remember, that the more exposures you make on the same film, the
more you are depleting the battery's power, as it may not be
sufficient enough for a total number of flashes for the amount of
the film remaining in the camera.

You can use two filters at
once, and thus, add even more fun and creativity to your
photography. Experimenting with your creative filters by altering
their combinations, is one way to achieve the best results.
Another way to do this is to refer to the Filters Combinations
Chart in the back of the Polaroid Spectra System Creative Effects
Filters' manual (provided with the kit).