Using Lens Filters in Photography – Type of Photography Filters

ND 6 stops filter + Circular Polarizer filter. f/11, ISO 100, before shot 1/5 sec., after shot 30 sec.

Remember that these filters are not the same as the digital filters used to edit images in Lightroom or Photoshop, such as Nik Collection filters.

We can obtain lens filters in several configurations, dimensions, and materials relying on their functionality and the outcome that we wish to accomplish.

USE OF FILTERS IN PHOTOGRAPHY

The function of photography filters will depend on each type of filter`s purpose.

Generally, filters for lenses will be applied to secure the lens from damages or scratches. In other scenarios, they are utilized to control the light of the scene and to generate specific influences, for example eliminating colors, decreasing reflections, etc.

FILTERS FOR LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

Lens filters play a core role in long exposure landscape photography where natural lighting is relied on to capture images. Specific filters can help achieve effects often difficult through editing alone.

Specifically, employing filters in landscape photography realizes the following:

• Control the light of the scene – in most cases, filters reduce the amount of light that contacts the sensor. In others, they polarize the light.

• Manage the color of our image, through filters that produce dominant colors by changing the hue of our images.

• Protect the lens from grit, dirt, debris, and liquid.

Type of Lens Filters

In this segment, we will analyze different categories of photographic filters by function.

As you will explore, photography recognizes numerous filter types. Here are the principal camera lens filter categories at a glance:

MAIN LENS FILTER TYPES

• UV filters: Their primary function is to safeguard the lens against scratches, water or debris.
• Neutral density filters (ND): These help control the light reaching the sensor by diminishing light according to the opacity of the filter. Within neutral density filters, different types exist depending on how the light is decreased.
• Polarizing filters: They polarize the light that reaches the sensor, removing unwanted reflections, haze and saturating colors naturally.
• Color filters: To vary the tone or saturation of the image.
• Night filters: Aimed at decreasing the light contamination of the scene.
• Macro filters: They act as a “magnifying glass”, allowing macro photographs.
• Infrared filter: This filter enables simulating the effect of capturing infrared images.

The special effects filters aim to simulate phenomena such as warm light filters or “Skylight”, fog or stars

Now we will delve deeper into the main camera filter types:

1. UV FILTERS (protection FILTERS)

Protective filters (also called UV filters) have the sole role of shielding the lens from harm like dirt, dust, and water.

We avoid using these types of filters as they can reduce overall image quality by diminishing sharpness and create side effects such as “flares.” Using basic precautions while shooting should be enough to keep our lens protected.

2. NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTERS (ND FILTERS)

Neutral Density filters, also known as ND filters, is one of the essential filters used in landscape photography.

They aid in the regulation of light circumstances by reducing the quantity of direct light achieving the camera sensor ( exposure) without changing the colors or the contrast of the image.

Depending on the amount and the way they reduce light, these would be the main types of neutral density filters:

• Solid Neutral density filters(ND): They evenly subtract light throughout the entire filter.
• Graduated neutral density filters(GND): They gradually subtract light from one edge to the center of the filter.
• Reverse graduated NDfilters (RGND) : They subtract light decreasingly from the center outwards.
• Variable neutral density filters: It consists of two polarizers together that depending on the rotation will subtract more or less amount of light.

Exploring the various Neutral Density filter varieties in-depth:

SOLID NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTERS

Fixed ND filters decrease a similar quantity of light ( exposure value) across the whole filter. Its primary function is to extend exposure time, hence applying a slower shutter speed without impacting ISO or aperture. Most are made of glass, so they don’t produce side consequences like vignette or color casts.

The filters are organized by the number of stops they lower:

The following are some common examples:

• 3-stop neutral density filter (ND 0.9): Diminishes the comparable effect of 3 stops of light, employed when we solely want to regulate a minuscule quantity of light within the scenery.

• 6-stop neutral density filter (ND 1.8): A greater level of illumination can be obstructed, perfect for sunrises or sunsets when lighting situations are more subdued.

• A 10-stop neutral density filter (ND 3): Greatly decrease the amount of visible light. We shall apply this filter under harsh lighting conditions and long daytime exposures.

GRADUATED NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTERS

Graduated ND filters decrease light progressively across the filter. At one edge of the filter, a certain number of light stops are lessened (following the same nomenclature as uniform ND filters) and no blocked light on the opposite side.

Gradient channels can be made of glass, despite the fact that normally made of polymer, and ordered as indicated by the sort of gradient:

• Soft-Edge Graduated Neutral Density Filters: Light degradation will be smooth from one border to the center of the filter. Perfect for scenes where we want to remove light just in the area of the image, such as the sky, for example.

• Hard-Edge Graduated Neutral Density Filters: They create a comparable overall effect as the delicate gradient yet with a more pronounced degradation in light. They are utilized in visualizations with significant contrasts of light like seascapes, particularly when the sun is in the outline.

• Neutral Density Blender filter: Acts comparably to a graduated filter with the difference of not degrading light from one border to the center, but from one border to the other extreme of the filter. Helpful in scenes when light also reflects in the lower segment of the frame, like moistened rocks in a seaside setting.

REVERSE GRADUATED NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTER

Reverse graduated NDfilters act in the same manner as graduated ND filters, but instead of blocking light in a gradient from one edge to the center of the filter, it reduces light from the center of the filter gradually towards the edge.

It is generally applied in sea photography when the sun is near the horizon.

VARIABLE NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTERS

This circular filter comprises two polarizing filters that diminish or lessen the quantity of light as we rotate it.

While technically composed of polarized filters placed together, it is grouped with ND filters since its primary function is to block light (usually between two and eight stops of light).

This type of filter is not very prevalent and are primarily utilized in videography, although some photographers employ it in landscape photography.

3. POLARIZING FILTERS

As intimated by its label, polarizing filters are applied to polarize the light reaching the sensor to accomplish the following:

• Saturate and contrast the final image with a natural looking finish.

• Eliminate shine from reflective surfaces being photographed.

There are two fundamental kinds of polarizing filters: Linear and circular (referring to how they polarize light, not the configuration of the filter).

Presently, primarily CPL (Circularly polarizing) filters are employed because they polarize light far more evenly. Also keep in mind that light is not always polarized consistently:

• The most effective point of polarization occurs when the light source is situated laterally at about 90°.

• During moments of rising or setting sunlight when just one side receives minimal light, these filters will not be helpful, since they will only polarize part of the scene.

• The polarizing impact is not uniform, so we will have to rotate the filter until wanted outcomes are accomplished.

• We must pay attention to the wider angles as it is feasible that only part of the image is being polarized.

The polarizing filter can also produce side consequences. For example, it can filter out rainbow or fog from an image that was meant to be included.

Keep in mind you can create similar impacts (i.e. contrasts and saturation) made by a polarizing filter in Photoshop, with some exceptions such as creating or removing reflections. This makes t he CPL essential in landscape photography.

For myself, it’s also my preferred filter for autumn photography, and it’s 90% of the time connected to my camera lens when I’m capturing the fallen leaves and woodlands.

4. COLOR lens FILTERS

Tinted photography filters are employed to modify hue, saturation, and color of an image.

These filters were very commonly used prior to the digital photography era, particularly with black and white film, where they were employed to enhance an image with certain color undertones.

However, with advances in digital photography and editing, these filters are barely used today.

If you`ve seen gel filters before, many were employed to alter image colors via the properties of this material.

5. NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY FILTERS

Though it may appear peculiar, there are night photography filters. Numerous were developed just recently to mitigate light contamination and seize more natural night hues.

The gel filters previously mentioned can also be used with flashes to achieve desired colors in night photography.

6. CLOSE-UP FILTERS OR MACRO FILTERS

It may surprise you, this filter enables macro photography images without a macro focal length.

They are circular and function similar to a magnifying glass, enlarging the image and thus providing focus on elements that would otherwise be impossible to see clearly without the lens.

7. SPECIAL EFFECTS PHOTOGRAPHY FILTERS

There are also other “unique effects” photographic filters, such as:

• Infrared filter
• Skylight filter
• Enhancer filter
• Star filter
• Fog filter

Most of these filters are now outdated as comparable outcomes can readily be accomplished in Photoshop through editing and processing filters for example Nik Collection filtersor Luminar filters.

HOW TO SET lens FILTERS

There exist varied techniques to attach filters to our camera lenses to achieve intended purposes.

ATTACHMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHY FILTERS

There are two primary types of filters categorized by shape and method of attachment to lenses:

• Circular attachments for photography: These are round attachments that are the same size as the lenses they connect to, without requiring extra adapters.

• Square and Rectangular photography filters/filter holder system: These square or rectangular designed filters affix to the lenses either through an adapter ring or filter holder.

lens FILTERS ADAPTERS

When adding a circular or square filter to photography equipment, that filter can only be used with a specific lens diameter. To use the filter with other lenses requires an adapter for circular filters and different adapter rings for square/rectangular filters.

For circular filters, consider purchasing wider ones and adaptors to use on narrower lenses (the reverse does not work with wider lenses and narrower filters). Doing so means you will not need to buy new filters when upgrading to wider lenses .

HOW AND WHEN TO USE FILTERS IN PHOTOGRAPHY

HOW TO USE FILTERS IN PHOTOGRAPHY

The application of filters in photography necessitates some basic familiarity to make the most of your filters.

In reality, using filters incorrectly can be counterproductive. Some accidental side effects include residual glare, flares, and stains.

Here are basic points about working with camera lenses:

1. The first one is very simple: Clean them as much as possible before a session.

2. Density filters that block a great quantity of light should consider two important steps before being installed:

• Determine the composition you will photograph.

• Focus. Cameras have difficulty or cannot focus without sufficient light when using filters. To address this, first set the focus mode to auto without a filter then shift to manual focus prior to adding the filter. This represents one of the best recommendations for focusing in photography.

3. If you utilize square filters and filter holders, be sure that it is completely attached to the camera to strongly prevent residual light from reaching the sensor.

4. When taking long daytime photographs, close the camera viewfinder (not applicable to mirrorless cameras) so that no light hits the sensor.

5. If multiple filters are used in a filter holder at the same time, it is advisable to cover any gaps between the filters and the sides of the filter holder. Reputable brands design their filters and filter holders to greatly reduce leftover light as much as possible.

6. When taking landscape photography using a tripod, it is crucial to not move the filter once set, since any vibration can diminish the last image quality. If shifting a filter becomes necessary, always do so either before or after capturing the photo.

7. There are numerous creative and unconventional methods to employ filters beyond the common. If you delight in experimenting, attempt some of them: spreading Vaseline on an ultraviolet protection filter to generate blurred impacts.

WHEN TO USE FILTERS IN PHOTOGRAPHY

It is fundamentally crucial to have a clear concept regarding various types and applications of filters, but it is principally important to know precisely when to utilize them. Ultimately, light conditions essentially decide how we could derive the most benefit from our filters.

Generally, we will use filters under the following situations:

• Create a silky water effect: Through a neutral density filter, we can achieve a greater visual influence in our images.

We can capture more lively “moving” pictures of waterways, streams, coastlines, and other bodies of streaming water employing a 3 or 6 stop ND filter, such as in coastal photography. Exposure time will depend on lighting and the scenery, generally between 0.5 to 2 seconds.