UK based filter company LEE Filters is producing their filters for the first time in a circular form, no longer needing to use a filter holder. Aimed at both stills and video shooters, the Elements range comprises neutral density filters called Big and Little Stoppers, a circular polarizer, and a variable neutral density filter.
What is cross polarization and how you can use it in your photography
Cross polarization is a technique that uses two polarizing filters – one on the light source and on e on the camera lens – to get rid of unwanted specular reflections.
The following slideshow illustrates the effect at varying degrees, depending on the orientation of the filters with respect to each other.
Here are four camera filters you (maybe) still need for digital photography
Filters were once common to all but compact and disposable cameras for shooting a vast array of topics. I’ve got about 20 here that I can pick from when I’m shooting black and white film, for example. But aren’t filters all just irrelevant now with digital photography where we can change the colour and contrast in post?
Well, no, not all of them. In this video, the team at DPReview TV takes a look at four filters that they say you still need for digital photography. Personally, I’m only really inclined to agree with three of them, but have a watch for yourself and make up your own mind.
Here is when you should use filters instead of Photoshop
As a landscape photographer, I find it both a convenience and an inconvenience to use filters. For example, using filters for balancing light in a scene, eliminates the need for bracketed shooting. This saves space on my memory card and on my hard drive. On the other hand, sometimes things happen so fast that mounting filters spoils the moment. There are also instances when using a filter to smooth the water in a waterfall will save me from blending exposures in Photoshop. On the negative side, adding filters to the backpack takes up space and adds weight.
Need protection for your expensive filters? This hard filter case could be what you need
Most of us neglect filters since they’re cheap and easily replaceable. However, investing in an affordable case for protection wouldn’t hurt as well. That’s especially if you own high-end filters that cost hundreds of dollars or more. In LensVid’s latest video, they review a cheap E-Bay case you might want to use for your next shoot.
A beginner’s guide to polarisers and neutral density filters
Some might have you believe that neutral density and polarising filters aren’t required in today’s modern era of digital photography. That you can replicate their effects in post. No problem, just a couple of clicks, right?
Well, no. While many filters aren’t really required any more (unless you just want to save yourself some time in post), neutral density and polariser filters both offer effects that can’t be accurately recreated in post. In this video, Evan Ranft explains why and how each of these different filters work.
Gear Spotlight: Polar Pro Drone Polarizing and Neutral Density Filters
If you’re flying a drone and want professional photos and video you need a set of polarizing and neutral density filters.
I have been using a set of Polar Pro filters on my Mavic for some time now, so I thought I would spotlight why I use polarizing and neutral density filters on my drone and some thoughts on the Polar Pro filters that I use.
This is the only lens filter you cannot replicate behind a computer
When I took on photography, there were a lot of filters to consider. ND, Haze, warming, cooling, grad-ND, polarizers. Heck, I had so many filters that sometimes they needed a little bag of their own inside my photography bag. Today though, most of the filters can be mimicked with photoshop.
Landscape photographer Mark Denney makes an interesting point, he shows three of the more common filters, ND, Grad-ND and a circular polarizer and while two of those filters can be replaced with photoshop-work. Mark asks a simple question, would you rather be spending your time editing in front on a computer, or hiking and shooting behind a camera.
This is why you absolutely need a polarising filter
Filters have largely gone the way of the dinosaur with digital photography. Lens filters, that is. The simple fact of the matter is that they’re just not needed now. We used to need a whole array of filters when we shot film. Solid colours to shift the contrast on black & white film. Variously coloured graduated filters to shift skies warmer. Now, you can do all that in post.
Colour shifts and gradients are pretty straightforward in Lightroom or Photoshop. But one filter that’s still essential is a circular polarising filter. It allows you to do things that are simply impossible in post, even with today’s digital technology. This video from photographer Christopher Frost explains why, with some practical examples.
Five essential filters for travel photography
In my post on essential gadgets for travel photography, I mentioned that I always pack five specific lens filters with me.
So in this post I thought I would elaborate on what I consider to be my five essential photography filters – in no particular order…
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