Have you been wanting to achieve that trendy dreamy look in your photos and videos but hesitant to spend money on the filters to do so? This quick tutorial just might help you be able to try it out.
Mist filters have been around for quite a bit of time, but have been gaining popularity among photographers and videographers across many genres. Mist filters instantly give your images a less contrasty, matte treatment by softening the shadows and dispersing highlights into a soft glow. When shooting scenes with the sun or other strong light sources in frame, the dispersion of the highlights create a dreamy, soft glow that many consider to add a cinematic feel to the image.
In this video from Vienna-based filmmaker Justin Espejo, he discusses three ways on how you can make your own DIY mist filter from a bare UV filter and some household items. These tips can come in handy if you simply want to try seeing what such a filter will do to your images before buying one or if you don’t want to spend on them at all. There are distinct differences between DIY options and commercially available mist filters that come in standardized variants depending on the density of the mist, but all of them can definitely make a difference in the overall mood of the images.
Find a nylon stocking which no one is using anymore. Remove your UV or clear filter, stretch the nylon tightly over your lens and slowly start threading the filter back on. When it catches good enough, you can release your grip on the nylon and tighten your filter. The tighter you stretch the nylon the less effect it will show, but will definitely have a more noticeable effect than with no nylon. You can tighten the nylon to create the amount of effect you're looking for. Good thing with this is you can use any color nylon you want or need. I used this method decades ago to soften the faces of women for portraits.