Fine-tune with filters

Use a polariser to boost a blue sky and ND filters for expressive exposures

Although ND grads aren’t as essential as they were in the days of film, they are useful to have in your bag if you’re a photographer who enjoys getting everything right in-camera. Two other filters that are definitely worth packing are a strong ND filter, for creatively blurring clouds and waves in daylight; and a polariser for cutting through glare on water and leaves, and boosting contrast in between a blue sky and white clouds.

Both are available as circular filters that screw onto the lens, or as square slot-in filters with a filter holder. The latter system can be more convenient, as it’s easier to swap filters and you’re less likely to see vignetting in the image when filters are stacked.

If you use a wide lens when a filter is in place, the holder may be visible in the corners (left). Take care positioning an ND grad’s transition: don’t take the dark part down too far (above).