Lesson 4: Lens Filters

Ready on set? Welcome to DRIFF’s DIY Film School, where we introduce you to some tips and tricks that any aspiring filmmaker can try from the comfort of their home. We’ll guide you through exercises to sharpen your skills as a filmmaker, showing you the basics of what it takes to succeed behind the camera so you can start shooting your own films today.

Lesson 4

Lens Filters

Since the creation of film, there have been many different formats utilized in this medium. The original film format consisted of a small square image with a black bar on both sides. However, when the popularity of this medium grew so did its scale as filmmakers wanted to expand the images audiences were exposed to. This screen size gave increased clarity and detail as filmmakers shifted away from circular lenses and gravitated towards rectangular ones. This is why when you watch a film in IMAX you will often see lens flares that are horizontal and long as the image taken with these lenses is scrunched and/or often stretched to fit the intended aspect ratio.

You may have noticed that there is a difference between some of the images you see on film versus those you capture with cameras, especially with a DSLR. These differences occur due to various types of lenses available. Standard DSLR lenses are circular while anamorphic lenses are a square image that gets stretched into a rectangle. Getting a lens in the anamorphic format is expensive as they are made particularly to be used in the film industry, which operate through rental houses. However, there are ways you can emulate this effect without breaking the bank.

To replicate the look of an anamorphic lens you can start by tracing around your lens on a piece of construction paper and cutting a piece out to make your own makeshift filter. After cutting out the traced lens, fold the image in half and cut an oval within the image. This will distort and filter out how much light reaches the lens. While this may not replicate the feel of an anamorphic lens, it is an interesting way to experiment with filters. If you find this tedious, thankfully there are lens filters of varying types that have been made to replicate exactly this. They are only approximately $14-20 on Amazon and are effective in creating and extending the lens flares captured through the camera in a way that reaches closer to the films you see.

You have the power with the images you take and the ability to play with filters to not only change how you frame an image, but also communicate a different mood and feeling. You can smear Vaseline on the filter (not the lens as it is harder to get that off) and it creates a haunting and atmospheric mood. This results in parts of the image being removed for clarity while other parts are impossible to ignore. There is power in capturing an image, and by thinking outside the box becoming more creative in the images you take. So, put the power in your hands and make yourself stand out that much more.

Connor Walsh is Photographer, Video Editor, and Writer based in Southern Ontario.

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If you’re interested in becoming part of a local film community or attending a film festival near you, the Durham Region International Film Festival’s events are for you! DRIFF presents an annual fall film festival in Durham Region, summer drive-in movie screenings in Whitby and DRIFF in a Jiff short film screenings in Oshawa. Visit driff.ca, become a DRIFF insider or follow us on social media at @catchthedriff for all the details.