The Master Filter Kit by Formatt-Hitech, Ken Kaminesky Signature Edition

I’m thrilled to announce my new Ken Kaminesky signature filter kit from Formatt-Hitech. Dubbed the ‘Master Kit’  it is the most complete filter kit that Formatt-Hitech (or anyone else for that matter) offers. My kit is ideal for the photographer that wants to have the most versatility and control over the subject matter that they photograph.

By using these filters in my photography in the last few years, I’ve been able to be more creative with my work and develop a deeper passion for image creation. After all, Photography is about how each photographer sees the world in their own unique way and how they interpret  their vision with their photographs.

‘It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you SEE’

~Henry David Thoreau

If you have not yet explored how neutral density and polarizing filters can help you take better photos, then keep on reading. This could change the way YOU see the world too. Exploring and discovering the world around you with new tools such as these filters will expand your creative vision and open up a world of new photographic possibilities.

Not only is it an honour for me to have this filter kit co-branded with me but equally satisfying on both a business and personal level to have the kit announced alongside my friend Elia Locardi’s  ‘Travel Photography Kit’. Elia inspires me on a regular basis with his passion for photography and talent with a camera and computer. His filter kit is well suited for the travel photographer that is conscious about keeping his or her gear light and contains some of the most popular filters that photographers are seeking when looking to purchase neutral density filters.

On another equally nice note, the beautiful design of both the Travel and Master kits was conceived and executed by Naomi Locardi… Well done and thanks Naomi!

Each of these two new kits offers photographers the chance to work with solid and soft edge neutral density (or ND) filters and the Master Kit also gives you a circular polarizer along with extra ND filters for a total package. Both kits are offered in acrylic IRND format and new colour cast free Firecrest glass filters.

Gratitude and Pride

It isn’t easy to find the right words to express how proud I am about this kit and grateful I am to all the good people at Formatt-Hitech for collaborating with me on this exciting project. This is a group of people that truly appreciates the art of photography and are looking for new ways to help photographers elevate their game.

Formatt-Hitech has revolutionized the photo and cinema filter game with these new Firecrest filters and I can honestly say that no one comes close to the Firecrest in terms of craftsmanship and innovation. The quality of the filters is something I stand by and I feel proud to be associated with. I’ve been in the photography game a long time and I would never risk endorsing a product that I did not use, love, and have absolute confidence in. It truly is an honour for me to associate my name with this kit.

‘Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.’

~William Arthur Ward Read

The Master and Travel Photography Filter kits come with a choice of ProStop IRND or Firecrest, with the ProStop version available now, and the Firecrest version available in early November.

Painting with light

Photography is basically the art of painting with light in a controlled fashion and there are 3 ways to fine tune the way you control the light that your camera works with. Aperture, ISO, and shutter speed are the ways we play with and manipulate the light that hits our camera sensors. Each one of these three ways of controlling light does very different things and by getting a better understanding of this photographic holy trinity (as I like to call it) we are able to be more creative with the images we create.

Having the right tools to control the light is essential for maximum creative control. The best tools in my arsenal are a good sturdy tripod (I use Induro), a cable release or intervalometer, and of course neutral density and polarizing filters like the awesome new Firecrest filters.

What is a Neutral Density Filter?

Simply put, an ND filter is a piece of glass or resin that reduces the amount of light that enters your lens across all colour wavelengths. It should do so with as little or no visible colour cast or hue change to your image. Different opacities of neutral density allow for more complete control of the effect you want to achieve in your final photograph.

As an ND filter becomes more opaque, you will have the option to either slow down your shutter speed (to control motion) or use a wider aperture (to control depth of field).

What is a Polarizer?

One of the best ways to preview the effect of your polarizer filter is to wear polarized sunglasses. By tilting your head from side to side you will get an approximation of the overall effect the polarizing filter will achieve on the scene you are photographing.

Effects of Polarizing filters

• Lighten and darken blue skies
• Adjust overall contrast in your photo
• Remove reflections and glare from water, glass, and other shiny and reflective surfaces
• Tweak saturation in the blues and greens in a scene
• Act as a slight ND filter of around 1.5 stops

Circular Vs. Linear Polarizers

When discussing polarizers, the words “linear” and “circular” don’t refer to the shape of the filter. It refers to the polarization pattern effect created by the filter. Linear polarizers are only effective on film cameras. Digital cameras, especially those with CMOS sensors and autofocus require circular polarizers.

When choosing a polarizing filter for digital photography, choose a circular polarizer.

What is a soft edge ND?

Graduated Neutral Density filters (Grads) are clear on the bottom and have different amounts of opaque neutral density at the top. Grads are available with different transitions from clear to opaque. The different types of grad are soft edge, hard edge, reverse, and blender.

Soft Edge

Soft edge grads are the most popular type of grad because the gradual transition from clear to ND effect is extremely versatile. Soft edge grads excel in scenes that have no precise horizon line, like a mountainous landscape, because the gradual blend from light to dark maintains a natural looking transition. Because they’re so versatile, soft edge grads also work well on very defined horizons as well. For this kit, I’ve chosen the two most popular densities of soft edge ND grad, because they are the most effective at balancing the bright sky with the subtle luminosity of the terrain below.

Why use ND filters?

• They allow you to remove or reduce visibility of moving objects in photos.
• They let you add motion blur to moving subjects
• They make it possible to take very long exposure photos that can create unique artistic effect
• With ND filters you can use a wider aperture in order to get more shallow depth of field without sacrificing an ideal shutter speed

What’s in the box?
The Ken Kaminesky Signature Edition Master Kits Include

• Firecrest ND or ProStop IRND 3.0 (10 stops)
• Firecrest ND or ProStop IRND 1.8 (6 stops)
• Firecrest ND or ProStop IRND 0.9 (3 stops)
• Firecrest or ProStop IRND Soft Edge ND Grad 0.6 (2 stops)
• Firecrest or ProStop IRND Soft Edge ND Grad 0.9 (3 stops)
• Firecrest Circular Polarizer
• Aluminum Holder
• Adapter ring
• Polarizer Ring
• Ken Kaminesky Booklet
• Filter Pouches

 Available Sizes Firecrest ND and ProStop IRND:

100mm* with aluminum holder and choice of wide angle adapter

58mm | 67mm | 77mm | 82mm

85mm* with aluminum holder and choice of threaded adapter

58mm | 67mm | 77mm

The Booklet

We included a special informational booklet with every Master Kit that contains advice regarding using neutral density and polarizing filters along with some of my favourite images from all over the world. I also share information and tips about how I shoot in the field and how I use my time effectively back home in my office when planning shoots. It takes more than most people think to get great images and I’m happy to share some of what I’ve learned over the years.

Firecrest ND Vs. ProStop IRND

ProStop IRND

ProStop IRND is an advanced ND filter that reduces both visible spectrum light and infrared radiation. At higher densities (such as 10 stops) reducing infrared reduces contamination on the digital sensor that causes color shifts and digital artifacts, especially in the dark areas of the image. ProStop IRND filters are made by using special formulations of dye in resin. Resin filters are light and extremely durable, and have an index of refraction nearly equal to the finest glass materials, meaning that resin filters will achieve the same level of image fidelity as a glass filter.

Firecrest ND

Firecrest is an exotic multi-coating that is applied to glass and is far-and-away the most technologically advanced filter manufacturing process on the market. Firecrest filters remove resin and dye from the equation completely. The Firecrest process is a hard coated electrolytic process that is anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and hydrophobic. Most importantly, Firecrest technology gives  the Formatt-Hitech chief scientist unprecedented control over modifying specific frequencies of the light spectrum. The result is hyper-neutral NDs, with tailored reductions of ultraviolet, visible spectrum light, near-infrared and infrared.

Why did I choose the filters included in my kit?

I wanted to include  the filters I used most and the combination I thought  would make for the most well rounded kit. I wanted this kit to contain all the absolute essential filters for the photographer who wanted the one kit to rule them all! All Lord of the Rings jokes aside, for all purpose travel, landscape, people, long exposure, and architectural photography… This kit is your perfect solution.

The solid NDs give a perfect balance of densities to work with from mild 3 stop exposure, mid range 6 stop reduction, to an extreme 10 stop exposure reduction. For the soft graduated filters I have found the 0.6 and 0.9 to be the most used in my kit and will be the perfect complement to the solid neutral density filters.

The polarizer is an obvious addition to the Master Kit and will help in all kinds of situations where you want to reduce glare, control reflective surfaces, and accentuate the blues and greens in your photos.

Looking back now, I’m confident that this filter kit will set the standard of what photographers need in terms of a well rounded set of neutral density and polarizing filters.

‘Eventually everything connects – people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality per se.’

~Charles Eames

Quality Products and Outstanding People

Getting to use the awesome Formatt-Hitech products is already quite the treat but having this kit of quality filters and accessories co-branded with my name is something very special to me. What makes it even more significant for me is the fact that I get to work with the dedicated and passionate people at Formatt-Hitech. Thanks to what they do, I’m more inspired than ever to create new images and I have a feeling that 2015 will be an incredible year for photography.

Thanks to Rod, David, James, Katie, and Anne at Formatt-Hitech for all your hard work on the kit and for your friendship. I’m proud to be working with you all!

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