Watch video (above): Kaleidoscopic Colors
There’s no shortage of photography equipment and gadgets on the market. Although we often justify a new lens by saying it will open up new creative possibilities, we don’t always pay the same attention to accessories. This month I’ve been experimenting with the Fractals Filters Classic 3-Pack, whose £170/$129 price tag might sound a bit high, but like a new lens, they open up brilliant artistic possibilities and allow you to capture unique images.
These prism filters can be held in front of the lens to refract and reflect light in interesting ways. Some create a jittery pattern, while others create a kaleidoscope of colors, making them perfect for portraits – and adding a special touch to your shots that makes them stand out from the crowd. Of course, you can buy cheap prisms online for £10/$10, which is a good start, but if you want better quality and versatility, these fractal filters are definitely worth the money.
1. Use a 50mm prime lens
First, attach your lens to your Canon EOS camera. 50mm on a full-frame Canon or 35mm on an APS-C seems to be the optimal focal length, but you can of course experiment. Make sure your lens has a UV filter so you don’t scratch the front element.
2. Startup settings
First, switch to Aperture Priority (Av) mode on your Canon and select an aperture of f/2 and ISO1600. You should aim for a shutter speed of at least 1/200 sec to avoid camera shake, so you may need to adjust your ISO depending on the daylight.
3. Move the filter
First, compose your scene, have your model pose as desired and check that the exposure is good. Then compose again, but this time bring your prism into view. Try moving it closer to or further away from the lens and tilting it towards or away from your model.
4. Facial recognition
Autofocus can be challenging when shooting through a prism. On newer Canon cameras like the EOS R5, this is made much easier by using subject detection (see above). However, on older Canon cameras, you will need to place your active AF point over the model’s eyes to ensure they are in focus.
5. A helping hand
It can be difficult to hold the camera in one hand and a filter in the other, so we recommend holding the Fractals filter by the grip and then pressing your thumb against the lens body to steady yourself and line up your shot perfectly. It’s also worth enabling your Canon EOS’s lens or body based image stabilization to reduce camera shake. A tripod may be a better option if you don’t need the flexibility to move and shoot quickly, although it’s a good option for shooting video with prisms.
6. Not all 50mm lenses are the same
A 50mm lens offers the perfect focal length for prism portraits, but you have to pay attention to the front element. The front element of this Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM is only 43mm, so we had to move the filter away from the lens to see more of its effect.
The diameter of the front element of this Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens is much larger at 77mm. This means that we can hold the Fractals filter closer to the lens to enhance the effect of the prism. Since we can hold it closer to the lens, it is much easier to create blur with a large aperture and shallow depth of field.
7. Fractal Filters: Pascal
The Pascal is the heaviest of the three prism filters in the Fractals Filters Classic 3-pack. At 255g, it’s a little more awkward to handle than the others. However, once you master it, you can use it to capture “impossible” images, as its chunky glass element has been cut to reflect objects outside your normal field of view. If you’re shooting outdoors, that could be a tree right behind you! Our model wore a glittery dress against a blue glittery background for extra sparkle reflected in the glass.
8. Fractal Filters: Julia
The Julia filter is perfectly round and has Fractals Filters’ signature brass knuckle style metal handle so you can comfortably hold it in your left hand while holding your camera in your right. It features an orange segment-like pattern with a clear, round sweet spot in the center. Previously this was a real hole, now it’s a complete piece of glass for cleaner results. This central zone gives you an ideal “sweet spot” in which to position your model’s face, with the surrounding frame then filled with a mesmerizing kaleidoscopic view.
9. Fractal Filters: Penrose
The Penrose filter is the lightest of the trio in the classic 3-pack, with its thin proportions and a cut-out section of glass. This makes it a pleasure to use as it is easy to hold and reposition. The glass has a checkerboard pattern on its front that breaks up the surrounding landscape into a wonderful diffused, glittery pattern. The cut-out section of glass is ideal for placing your focal point as it leaves that area perfectly sharp. Due to the two pointed ‘horns’, make sure your lens is fitted with a UV filter to avoid scratching the front element.
