Filter fun times

IMPROVING YOUR LANDSCAPE IMAGES IS EASY WITH THESE SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR FILTER KIT

Filter holder 1

The filter holder is attached to the camera via an adaptor. Ours screws into lenses with an 82mm thread, but is supplied with extra rings to fit 67mm, 72mm and 77mm lenses – which will cover most high-quality lens filter thread sizes typically used for landscape photography.

Cap it off 2

With the filter holder adaptor screwed into the front of your lens, your lens cap can no longer be clipped on. Unscrewing the adaptor every time you want to pop your camera into your bag is a pain, so kits that come with an oversized cap that fits over the attachment are handy.

Filter bag 3

Filters are delicate and tossing them into your bag can scratch them, which will show in your shots – or worse, crack them. A filter case is, therefore, essential. The ability to attach it to your tripod legs means that all your filters are accessible – and you no longer need a third hand to swap them!

Keep it clean 4

It’s vital that your filters are clean and free from dust or water spots, as these will show up in shots. Inspect your filters before you pop them into your filter holder, and use a blower or lint-free cloth to remove debris. If shooting near water, regularly check the frontmost filter for signs of spray.

Tripod 5

When using filters, you’ll probably need to use a tripod too, as shutter speeds are likely to be too slow to shoot handheld. Even a circular polarizer cuts down light by up to two stops, and the whole point of ND filters is to slow your exposure time to several seconds – or even minutes – long.

Remote release 6

When shooting long exposures, pressing the shutter button could ‘jog’ the camera, causing image softness. While you can use the 2-sec self-timer delay to allow it to settle, if timing is crucial – such as when shooting waves – a remote release will allow you to fire at precisely the right moment.