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8 Filters<br />
High-quality filters are a must-have accessory<br />
for improving your landscapes in-camera. When used<br />
properly, a filter not only enhances scenes, but saves<br />
you time editing your shots later, and is also useful for<br />
protecting your expensive lens’s front element from<br />
accidental damage. We’ve listed the most important<br />
filters for photographing summer landscapes below,<br />
explaining the conditions where you’ll want to use each<br />
one. Companies like Lee Filters (www.leefilters.com) offer<br />
premium options – at premium prices – but choose a filter<br />
system that matches your budget.<br />
Summer landscapes<br />
Know your ND from your UV? Here’s<br />
our quick guide to using filters<br />
Ultraviolet filter<br />
A UV filter is often overlooked, but as ultraviolet<br />
radiation can create haziness in photographic<br />
images it’s a handy accessory to keep on your lens<br />
in summer. UV radiation increases with altitude, so<br />
use a filter if you’re going to be climbing. A UV filter<br />
also protects the front of a lens – it’s a lot cheaper<br />
to replace a filter than a scratched front lens element…<br />
TOP<br />
TIP<br />
High-contrast scenes can play<br />
havoc with your metering when<br />
using Evaluative mode<br />
Avoid dust spots<br />
Dust spots become very obvious when<br />
you’ve stopped down to narrow apertures<br />
(higher f-numbers) and are shooting a bright<br />
sky. Make sure that your lens, filters and sensor<br />
are clean. This way you won’t spend hours<br />
removing dust spots in post-processing.<br />
Neutral-density filter<br />
Neutral-density filters, such as the Lee Big Stopper,<br />
reduce the amount of light entering the lens across<br />
the whole frame. This means you can use much<br />
slower shutter speeds than normal. Attach a 10-stop<br />
ND filter if you want to use a wide aperture, or really<br />
long exposure for creative effect on a bright<br />
summer’s day, such as blurring moving water.<br />
Graduated neutral density filter<br />
Graduated neutral density filters have a dark or grey<br />
coating at the top, and blend to clear at the bottom.<br />
By placing the dark part over the sky, you can bring<br />
its exposure value closer to that of the landscape<br />
below. This filter therefore becomes very useful<br />
when you’re shooting very bright skies against a<br />
darker foreground, and you need to balance the two.<br />
Circular polarizer<br />
A polarizer is highly effective on sunny days, adding a<br />
rich and velvety quality to blue skies. Once attached<br />
to your lens, simply rotate the front section to<br />
increase or decrease the effect. A polarizer will also<br />
boost contrast on damp, overcast days. On a shoot,<br />
you can judge the strength of the effect by rotating<br />
the filter slowly as you look through the viewfinder.<br />
The Canon Magazine 37
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