When it's time for visual refreshment, look into the Gold-N-Blue and Soft-Ray filters

Living in Knoxville, Tennessee, enables outdoor photographer Nye Simmons to take full advantage of his proximity to Smoky Mountain National Park. For more than 25 years, he's been photographing and writing about the park. He's also the co-author/photographer of several photo books, including The Smoky Mountains Photographer’s Guide and Great Smoky Mountains Wonder and Light.

"Until recently, I have mostly followed a set routine when photographing," says Nye. "Once I identified a promising location, I tried to determine the best conditions for taking a photograph, often returning to the location just as a gardener checks his crop. I selected a film that I felt would best match the subject. Then I chose the Graduated Neutral Density filters that would help rebalance the light within a dynamic range my film could record. To reduce unwanted glare and improve color saturation, I would also frequently use my LB Polarizers. As you can tell by now, I have tended in the past to capture more literal interpretations of the scenes before me, trying always to avoid 'special effects.' I have viewed the world I photograph differently at different ages and nowadays I tend to try some new things –- experiment more with new techniques. I'm no longer as enamored of 'big sky' scenes –- the grand landscape -- nor am I as devoted to always scouting, previsualizing, and being there at the decisive moment. I now venture often into more introspective and more intimate landscape imagery, though I will never pass up a grand scenic.

"In that same light, the two Singh-Ray filters I want to discuss here -- the Gold-N-Blue and the Soft-Ray Diffuser -- are not intended for literal interpretations, they are for exploring new visions. I believe many of us "literal" photographers who find our vision beginning to expand might find these filters very helpful and challenging.

"The Gold-N-Blue Polarizer is perfect whenever you're facing drab light and/or dull weather conditions, yet feel the need to make an interesting image nevertheless. This filter's surprising color shift -- from gold to blue and back again -- will take effect wherever there is polarized light reflecting from your scene -– water, wet rocks, shiny leaves, open sky – you name it. I came upon this first scene last fall while hiking in the Narrows in Utah's Zion National Park. The seep behind the box elders was attractive, but lacked impact. My hunch that the wet seep would polarize into blue paid off, adding greater color contrast as well as shape and content. The box elders and other foliage took on a slightly different color that was neither better nor worse to my eye, just different.

"I love fog -- can’t get enough -- but fog is elusive and often fleeting. When the fog doesn't show up for work, the Soft-Ray Diffuser filter provides some of that same soft atmosphere and ambience, and helps to turn bare shapes and hard edges into something more gentle and inviting. In the right hands and eyes, the Soft-Ray can turn mundane scenes into magical works of art, often adding a sense of mystery to the landscape. Adding glow to wildflowers is a snap, and depth of field becomes less of an issue as does wind. Perhaps these images aren’t going to change the world, but you can see how the Soft-Ray might be helpful in your own image making. Post processing varies the effect; a simple move with the highlight levels slider varies the intensity of the effect. Increasing contrast adds snap and reduces the 'fog' intensity.

"Are these filters for you? That’s a tough one. If you're looking for new fields to conquer, the Gold-N-Blue and the Soft-Ray should find a place in your arsenal at some point, but like exotic spices, they should be used skillfully and judiciously for best results."

Nye Simmons has been widely published in regional as well as national publications, books, posters, calendars, and exhibits. He is also a staff member of Mountain Trail Photo group. More of Nye’s images may be viewed on his website.