MASTER THE POWER OF FILTERS

James Abbott shows you how to use filters to take control of light and exposure to capture dramatic and creative landscape images

Photography is all about light, P and the ability to control it is an essential skill. Landscape photography typically relies on natural light, and success can be dependent on the available light (as well as general weather conditions), where in the case of studio photography, for example, the photographer has full control over light and exposure.

Landscape photographers can, however, take control over lighting to an extent, by using filters to control the way that light enters the lens. The degree of control can be surprisingly high, and whether you aim to simply control exposure or add in-camera creative effects, you're only ever a few steps away you simply need to know what's available, alongside how and when to use a specific filter or combination of filters.

There comes a time in landscape photography when simply arriving on location with just a camera and tripod isn't enough to allow you to achieve your creative aims, and the next step is to start using filters for greater control over your exposures. If you've ever looked at a flawless landscape photo and wondered how it was taken, there's a good chance that filters were used, and here we're going explain everything you need to know about when and how to use filters to transform your landscapes.

PART 1 WHICH FILTER SYSTEM SUITS YOU?
Kit yourself out with the right filter equipment to take amazing shots