"Homebody" Photo Tip: "It Worked For Me:" Essential Gear: Filters

     There are two more pieces of essential gear needed if you have recently acquired a DSLR.  The first is a protective filter for your lens(s); the second is a circular polarizer filter for your most versatile lens.  Some advanced point and shoots, and newer mirror-less type cameras can also be fitted with filters.

     An ultraviolet “haze” filter, a skylight (1A) filter, and a clear-glass filter are the types commonly used to protect the lens.  The theory is if you drop the camera and the end of the lens hits the ground, it is less expensive to replace a broken filter than it is to buy a new lens.  Or, if you are at the shore and the sand and salt spray are blowing, you can replace a scratched filter a lot easier than replacing a scratched lens.

     Not everyone agrees with this practice since you are adding another glass surface that can increase problems such as lens flare in your image.  Also, why put a glass surface that is, perhaps, lower in quality over a high quality precision-ground lens? 

     I’ve always purchased protective lenses for my cameras.  I do a lot of landscape photography and weather conditions are not ideal all the time.  I feel a lot better knowing that I can replace a filter if “stuff happens.”  However, I will take the filter off if I am shooting at night or shooting into the sun under milder conditions.  The protective filter can cause problems for me in these situations.

     The other must-have filter is a circular polarizer.  It will become your go-to filter after you practice with it a little.  Simply put, this lens works by blocking some of the scattered light reflecting off your subject.  It kind of cleans up the “noise” in the light entering the lens allowing for a clearer image to be recorded.  Colors, especially blue skies, will become darker and richer.  Reflections and glare will be reduced and colors will be more saturated even under rainy, wet conditions.  Like wearing a pair of Polaroid sunglasses, you will be able to see below the surface of water with this filter attached. 

     The circular polarizer is adjustable by turning a ring on the outside of the filter.  You can vary the effect from just a touch to getting a maximum effect, depending on your taste and your vision for the scene you are capturing.  Get a thin-mount filter to reduce the chance that the filter will show up in the image, especially when using a wide-angle lens.

     The circular polarizer lens’ full effect is realized when your subject is 90 degrees to the sun.  In other words, if you are facing your subject, the full effect of the polarizer lens will be had when the sun is over your right arm, or your left arm.  If you are shooting directly into, or directly away from the sun (i.e. 180 degrees), the effect of the lens is minimized.  Also, the polarizer is most effective during the mid-morning and mid-afternoon hours, least effective during the “golden hours” and at high noon.

     Thanks for reading and, as always, if you have suggestions for topics please put them in the comments.