Dan Mold shows you how to get the best results with glass prisms
There’s no shortage of photographic gear and gadgets on the market.
Although while we often justify a new lens with an ability to open up new creative possibilities, we don’t always give accessories the same time of day. This month I’ve been experimenting with the Classic 3-Pack from Fractals Filters, which at £94 ($120) may sound a tad steep, but like a new lens, they open up brilliant artistic opportunities and allow you to take unique pictures.
These prism filters can be held in front of the lens to refract and reflect light in interesting ways. Some create a glitchy pattern while others create a kaleidoscope of colour, making them perfect for portraits – giving your shots an edge that will stand out from the crowd. Of course, cheap prisms can be bought online for £10 and are a great place to start, but if you want better quality and versatility, these Fractals Filters are certainly worth it.
TOP TIPS YOUR CANON CAMERA SETUP
01 CANON EOS CAMERA
You can, of course, take portraits with any Canon camera, although the latest Subject Detection on Canon mirrorless models, such as the EOS R5 or R6, make locking autofocus on your subject’s eyes a breeze when composing with your prism.
02 50mm PRIME LENS
A 50mm prime lens on a full-frame camera, or 35mm on an APS-C Canon, tends to work well for prism portraits as they are lightweight, small and have wide apertures of f/1.8 or wider for better bokeh and shallow depth-of-field effects.
03 GLASS PRISM
You can use any glass prism to take a prism portrait but our trio from Fractal Filters are made with photographers in mind, using high-quality glass and feature a metal handle so you don’t get fingerprints on them either.
EXPERT ADVICE USING PRISMS
Two ways to maintain and use your prisms effectively
TOP TIPS SHOOTING WITH PRISMS
A HELPING HAND
Holding your camera in one hand and a filter in the other can be tricky, so we suggest it’s easiest to hold the Fractals Filter by its grip and then use your thumb to rest against the lens barrel to steady yourself, an
