Over the last maybe two years, I’ve read here-and-there people say that yellow-tinted Fujifilm Recipes have a “piss filter” as if the photographer shot through a glass of urine from someone who is not particularly hydrated. The term has spread across the internet over the last eight months or so, it seems, with people now using it more frequently. Today, Selishots posted a YouTube video called 5 Recipes So Your Photos Don’t Look Like Piss. I’ve met Ben of Selishots a couple of times, and he’s a great guy—this article is not about him whatsoever (so don’t think for a moment that it is); however, I brought him up simply because his video motivated me to finally address the whole “piss filter” nonsense.
First, the term is clearly meant as a putdown. It began with and is still largely used by those who don’t shoot straight-out-of-camera and who don’t like the whole Recipe thing. Most of them would tell you that real photographers shoot RAW, not JPEG. It’s a derogatory term intended to make you feel “less than” about your photography. In my opinion, it’s shameful. I put it in the same category as other derogatory slang, and I don’t think the photography community should be accepting of such uninclusive language. Do we need to invent new terms to call out this toxic behavior? Formatism? RAW supremacists? I’d rather not go there, but I think it makes the point. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are any less of a photographer or that your photographs aren’t good enough just because you didn’t go about it the same way (the so-called “right way”) as they did. There’s no right or wrong way to do photography, and anyone who says otherwise is flat-out wrong and couldn’t be more wrong.
The statement also stems from ignorance. The people who use the term “piss filter” have obviously never shot film, and they’d be surprised to learn that many Kodak film stocks tend to lean warm (some historical emulsions didn’t just “lean” warm, but were obviously warm). Expired or mishandled film could sometimes have a strong yellow cast. Aside from that, it was very common 25+ years ago to use warming filters, like 81B or even W12—those are probably the closest to so-called “piss filters” in analog. Not to mention that classic lenses with thorium dioxide will turn yellow over time, basically making the lens itself a so-called “piss filter” of sorts. Lastly, color film photos can fade, and sometimes that can make them turn yellow-ish. In other words, if you know even a little about film photography, you know that yellow-leaning pictures are quite common, and not an oddity. When someone says “piss filter” they are admitting that they know very little about analog images or the history of photography.
Third, the reason people are drawn to warm-leaning looks is because they like them. We’re all different, and have different tastes—I don’t know why this is a difficult concept for some people. If a photographer likes their pictures with a certain color cast, why does that bother you so much? It’s their art, not yours. When someone says “piss filter”, that has to come from some kind of insecurity or jealousy; while it’s often stated with arrogance, there’s clearly something painful going on deep inside of the person uttering it. Interestingly, these warm-leaning looks only seem to bother people when they are from Recipes and not when they come via Lightroom presets. Psychologically, color actually matters a lot, as different colors affect the viewer in different ways. For example, yellow can make a person feel happy and positive; orange can make a person feel optimistic and enthusiastic. In general, these colors can often feel nostalgic, like a joyful memory from your childhood. It’s about the emotion and mood that the photographer wants to convey. Someone might not “get” why warm-tinted photographs are popular, but it’s not difficult to understand when you think about it for just a moment.
Additionally, it shows a lack of knowledge about Fujifilm Recipes in general. There are tons—probably hundreds—that don’t have a warm cast. In fact, I published an article last year highlighting 15 Recipes with a cool cast. To assume that they all have a yellow cast just shows how little the person actually knows about this topic. Instead of conducting even a minimal amount of research, they put it down. Sad. With so many possible looks from Recipes, there’s bound to be at least one that is close to most people’s personal style. If one isn’t for you personally, find the ones that are. I’ve published more than 400, so you have a lot to choose from.
The term “piss filter” needs to die. It’s dumb. It’s narrow minded. It’s insulting. We should not tolerate it as a community, because we should not tolerate putting people down just because they’re different than us in some way. We’re all humans, trying to create pictures that are meaningful to us. Let’s be a bit more respectful, and a little less rude. Do photography however you want to do it, and create photographs in whatever manner you desire. There’s no right or wrong way, and there’s no right or wrong way for how pictures should look.
The ignorance out there is stunning. I’m generally not a fan of an overly warm look, be it film or a recipe, but some scenes just call for it, and you can’t deny that it creates a retro vibe. And after experimenting with Kodak ProImage 100, which has a *very* pronounced yellow cast, I’ve learned to actually appreciate it.
A good example of what you’re talking about is the Vibrant Arizona Recipe, which a lot of people LOVE. Personally, I find it to be overly warm for my tastes most of the time, but sometimes it really is perfect. One of my photos that proudly hung on the wall at Fujikina Copenhagen was made with that Recipe. 1970’s Summer is another example: too warm sometimes, but some of my absolute favorite pictures were made with it. It not only comes down to individual tastes, but also sometimes individual circumstances.
As far as film, you just have to look back at the iconic color photographers of the ’60’s and ’70’s (and into the ’80’s), and you’ll see a warm (so called “piss filter”) look for many of the images. But like you said, you don’t even have to look that far, as Kodak ProImage 100 has a pronounced warm cast today.
Very good article Ritchie.
And good recep on film era.
Indeed this bad usage and lack of knowledge needs to stop.
As usual very dumb.
I like your term of RAW supremacist. I had a good laugh with it. But it’s a very good pick and consider current situation.
I’m still surprised and make me more and more not going on social media to loose time on looking at such silly things.
So thx again for your article Ritchie.
I appreciate your kind reply. I’m glad that you had a good laugh, I wasn’t sure if that came off as too series—I really didn’t intend it to be—so I’m glad you found the humor.
Very welcome
I equate the LightRoom geezer / geezerette with the photographer who really needs a lot of airbrushing on the clients transparencies but he can’t afford it.
Right 1st time, the Jpg, should be everyone’s aim.
Cropping and tilt correction, quite enough for anyone. Canon even take one of those off your shoulders, portraits excepted.
I haven’t forgotten stacking. Enough work for anyone.
Best Rgds.
Right the first time is the most ideal aim, I think. Thanks for the input!
This is a great article, Ritchie! I fully agree with pretty much everything you said. I first started noticing the term “piss filter” over on r/photographycirclejerk, and I’ve never really loved the term. Personally, I think that subreddit can be pretty negative about basically everything 😂.
I actually had a big debate with myself over whether I should even use the term in the title. The video is currently A/B testing three different titles, and only one of them actually uses “piss.”
The main idea behind the video was really just to share some recipes with cooler, more neutral looks for people who prefer that style, not to say that warmer recipes are bad. I use and enjoy plenty of warmer recipes myself.
I actually filmed the video before I was even aware there was a larger conversation happening around the term. If I had known, I probably would’ve addressed it in the video because ultimately everyone has their own idea of what looks good. If you’re happy with how your photos look, that’s really all that matters.
It’s definitely a bit of a lesson for me too about making sure I provide enough context in my videos, especially when I’m talking about something that can come across more negatively than I intended.
In general, I think the photography community could use a little less hate and negativity around how other people choose to make their photos. If something gets someone excited to pick up their camera, go out, and take more photos, I see that as a good thing. At the end of the day, more people getting excited about photography and actually going out and taking photos is what matters.
And I really appreciate you mentioning the video and linking to it! It’s pretty cool seeing it become part of a larger conversation.
-Selishots
I appreciate you sharing and suggesting some cooler, more neutral Recipes. Those often get overlooked, and I think it’s because people tend to like and prefer the warmer Recipes. Highlighting some good options is always beneficial to the community.
I hope to see you in NYC!
Thank you for your comment Ben.
Indeed it would be great that little less hate and negativity be found everywhere and especially around how other people choose to make their photos!
It would be a relief at last!
Certain people sees reality through a sh*t filter directly screwed in their mind
Maybe so 🤣
‘Straightoutofcameraophobia’
🤣🤣
Unfortunately, those who are derogatory won’t go away… freedom of speech and all… but we can be pissy too… so just tell them to piss off and go on shooting SOOC! It’s all just noise… or is that grain?… sorry, you’ve covered that in another article… 😉🤣
Where’s that noise reduction software when you need it?…. 🤣🤣
🤣 🤣 Good one !
Would be great indeed to have such noise reduction software(s) elsewhere than for our pics!
🤣
I named one of my recipes “Golden Shower” because of the golden hour “piss filter” tones. The name is a uno reverse card for any mean comment.
That’s definitely one way to do it 🤣
I have yellow tinted sunglasses which I use for mountain biking in shadowy mountain bike trails. The usual dark sunglasses are just too dark for forest with thick canopies, anyway it makes dull dreary days look great and makes everything brighter (1 stop) looking and yes warmer but not bad. I’ve thought of getting a filter for my camera for dreary days, we get plenty in spring and fall and sometimes in winter. Doesn’t mater what we call it although piss does not make it appealing. Warm/bright filter would be better
My son has orange-colored sun glasses, and sometimes he uses them as a filter (my daughter has done it, too), and the effect can be quite interesting.
Hey Ritchie! I feel you get triggered by such stuff more lately judging by the posts you did int the recent past. Personally, I don’t worry too much about such opinions of others. Photography is a very personal and taste-driven hobby for me. Why would anybody else fancy exactly the same stuff and style as I do? Rather unlikely even.
So, don’t fret too much!
I appreciate you encouragement!
I don’t like it when people put others down just because they are different than them in some way. It’s the same as racism, etc., in my opinion. So I do think it needs to be called out so that it is recognized as toxic behavior. As a community, it should not be acceptable, we should not tolerate it. Some of these things never seem to get called out, so it would appear that we (as a community) are accepting to the discriminating behavior. If someone likes to do photography a certain way or have their pictures look a certain way, they should not be bullied for it, just because someone else doesn’t do it that way or like their pictures that way.
Personally I am a fan of the “yellowing” or “antiquing” I get when using vintage lenses containing radioactive Thorium (one example I use is the Pentax SMC Takumar 50/1.4). This is just another way to keep your photos from looking like everyone elses…
Takumar lenses are great! I have a few of them myself.