Filters are an integral part of photographic imaging. The use of filters for photography has a long and varied history, stretching back to the earliest days of experimentation with the medium. Filters have been used to create a range of effects from the subtle to the dramatic, from selective changes in hue and saturation to strong, realistic special effects.
Most commonly, filters are used to balance and enhance tones and colors in an image, particularly when the light is inadequate or of low quality. Blue and yellow filters are the most common types, with each tending to bring out cool or warm tones respectively. With fine tuning, an image can easily be shifted too much in either direction, but when used correctly, a filter can complement or enhance the natural tones and colors of your image.
Neutral Density filters are a special type of filter used to reduce the amount of light entering the lens. This makes it possible to reduce the brightness of a scene without changing the color, or to produce a slow shutter speed even when shooting in very bright conditions. ND filters are particularly helpful when shooting in broad daylight, when reducing the shutter speed to capture cloud movement or blurred water movement would otherwise be impossible.
Another type of ND filter is the graduated ND filter, which contains a transition from a dark part to a clear part. Whether a hard or soft transition is used, this filter is useful for controlling exposure in situations where the scene contains a range of brightness, such as a skyline with a bright sky but a dark and shaded foreground.
Star filters achieve a special effect, enhancing the appearance of any light source in an image. These filters produce multiple star-spoke affects surrounding bright lights or reflections. Reducing the intensity of the star effect is possible by using a weaker filter, while a stronger filter creates more distinct star shapes and points.
Polarizing filters are essential when shooting outdoors in sunny conditions, reducing glare from water and creating deeper, more saturated colors in landscape Photography. For an even more dramatic effect, you can pair a polarization filter with a graduated ND filter for a truly stunning effect that emphasizes the horizon and sky.
UV filters absorb lightwaves that cannot be seen by the human eye, but can produce a hazy effect on an image. UV filters are generally recommended for outdoor shots, particularly if shooting in higher altitudes.
Many different types of filters are available, and the effects they can have on an image range from subtle to dramatic. Learning how and when to use the various filters can transform ordinary images into something extraordinary. As with any part of photography, experimentation is key and the more experience you gain with the different filters, the better you will become at using them to create beautiful, creative images.
