I purchased my first ever creative filter: a Tiffen Black Pro Mist 1/4 for diffusion. It should soften up direct light sources and skin while holding sharpness… or at least that’s what it says on the tin.
Never before would I consider paying $120 for a filter, much less a Tiffen brand filter, designed to reduce contrast and overall sharpness, as those are 2 things mostly unwelcome in landscape photos. It seems the pandemic and social distancing has made me a bit crazy.
Designed specifically for video, these diffusion filters are more effective when there’s movement, making them questionable for most still photography. At least that’s the way I see it. However, I’ve taken a few shots with mist and fog that may have benefitted from a filter like this, especially during post-processing. Photos with light sources illuminating fog, mist or falling precipitation, with a long exposure, could benefit from diffusion as I’ve found recently with a photo.
Anyways, the weather forecast looks promising for today’s sunset, so I may give this a try then. I’ll also be trying it out on my new GF 45-100mm ƒ/4 OIS lens I just picked up last night. That lens has the potential to become my everyday carry and I’ll be giving it a review soon. Yes, that means I’ll have to forgo the new 80mm ƒ/1.7 for a little while.
One note: in these trying times, support your local businesses if you can. Especially small, family-owned stores or stores whose specialty is fading or being absorbed by monoliths like Amazon and Walmart, these places need your business. If they take good care of you, the least you can do is try to take care of them. That’s what community is all about. I’m done preaching now.
JetCity Ninja 
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