TOP TIPS FOR USING FILTERS

Mike Harris passes on some tips that will help you to use your lens filters to their full potential

- Mike Harris

BEFORE

AFTER

30 MINS

If you've mastered basic exposure settings and are looking to take your photography to the next level, consider investing in a few filters. These thin sheets of glass or resin are placed in front of the lens in order to manipulate rays of light before they reach the camera's sensor.

The most commonly used filters are neutral density (ND), graduated neutral density (ND grad) and polarisers. ND filters block varying degrees of light to lengthen exposures, ND grads are dark at the top and clear at the bottom to balance bright skies and darker landscapes, and polarisers block polarised light, which reduces glare and boosts blue skies. Other more specialist filters are available, including mist, infrared and sunset filters.

The majority of filters are either screw-in or square – the former screw onto the front of compatible lenses, and the latter are attached via a dedicated filter holder. Note that filters can have an effect on image quality, so if you're planning to use filters regularly it's worth investing in a decent set.

While filters aren't difficult to use, they can be a little daunting for newcomers, and with that in mind, we've compiled this introduction to using filters to help you find your feet.