LEE Filters new catalog is a fantastic resource

LEE Architectural Filters
Photo Credit: LEE Filters

“Think LEE”, the new LEE Filters catalog is a gorgeous compendium, not just of their products, but also wonderful information for anyone working with light including Cinematographers, Gaffers, concert and theater Lighting Designers (my heart’s great love), and architects and interior designers creating with interior and exterior lighting.

My favorite section is the Designer Series, where luminaries (you see what I did there) in film, TV, theater and architecture have worked with the LEE engineers to create specialist filters. What I love are the luscious use descriptions, evidently full of deep thought, and the delightful titles. Here a couple of examples.

728 Steel Green – “Approaching storms. Overcast days. Cold steely light. Malevolent moonlight.”

603 Moonlight White – “A pleasant white light at full power, dims down to a warm colour and at low intensities has more yellow than red content. Good for sunlight effect as if through stormy clouds reflecting off the ocean.”

511 Bacon Brown – “An intense and warm deep brown. Designed to recreate the pigment browns used by Francis Bacon in some of his paintings.”

731 Damp Squib – “A dirty green, reduces warmth. Good for cross lighting.”

793 Vanity Fair – “A rich glamorous pink, good for use on special occasions.”

The catalog also includes information about light wavelengths, and color range graphs for every color of gel. Another newer category is the LED corrective filter collection, designed to allow lighting designers to balance and color correct light from multiple sources. They also have long sleeves for tube lights, both fluorescent and LED tubes. What a time saver!

I promise, I’m not receiving anything from LEE for this post – I just love all the new technology. Well do I remember shooting in office locations filled with fluorescent lights. The first lengthy job was installing filters on every single ceiling fixture to balance out the green cast that “fluoroes” give off. Then a whole different set of filters were needed to balance the daylight coming in the windows. This was all so that the camera saw what the human eye/brain perceives as ordinary “invisible” light. Then some art department fool (ahem!) would bring in a tungsten desk lamp, and there would be more fuss to ensure proper matching.

You can contact LEE for swatches and a copy of the catalog. They have a 99 cent IPhone Swatch App too.

PS. The blog features amazing photography using LEE camera filters and other products. Gorgeous and inspirational.