Choosing and using landscape filters

Techniques

24 October 2007 14:27

Filters can be really useful for the photographer, helping to enhance the natural mood and drama of a landscape. If you’re shooting on film, they’re indispensable, but filters can be just as useful for digital capture. Even though some of the effects can be replicated in Photoshop, it’s often better to adjust an image on location than spend hours at the computer afterwards.

The filter systems from manufacturers such as Cokin (www.intro2020.co.uk) or Lee Filters (www.leefilters.com) are specifically designed with the landscape photographer in mind. Here the filters slot into a holder that’s fixed to the front of your lens by an adapter ring so they don’t move round as you focus your lens. (You’ll find the correct adapter ring size written on the front rim of your lens.) Other types of filter are designed to screw direct into the front thread of your lens.

Whichever type you use, the effects can be dramatic.

1. Darken skies. A neutral density or grey grad is the most useful landscape filter. Positioning the darker part of the filter over the sky and the clear area over the land or sea allows you to capture dark, stormy skies in all their glory. There’s plenty of choice among the various types of graduated filters: the most useful is the one that darkens the sky by 2 stops (also called a 0.6ND) as used here.

2. Saturate colours. A polarising filter is used to make the most of blue skies and add saturation to your image. Although simply putting the polariser on the lens will have some effect, you need to rotate the filter in its holder to darken the sky fully. Turn the filter while looking through the viewfinder and you’ll see the effect. For AF cameras, buy a circular polariser rather than the cheaper linear type – otherwise your metering and focus systems won’t work.

3. Increase warmth. In overcast conditions you don’t have to stop shooting, just switch your attention to details in the landscape around you. Shooting under cloudy skies you’ll often get cold-looking results, but you can swiftly add a touch of warmth by popping an 81A or 81B filter in front of your lens. These subtle rosy pink-orange filters can also be used for adding extra warmth to your sunrise or sunset shots.

4. Create drama. Ever wondered how you get those really dark, dramatic skies on black & white film? The answer is to use a red filter. This filter darkens the blues to give your landscapes much more impact. To get the strongest effect you need a good mix of blue sky and white cloud, although you can also use it on clear skies to turn it almost pure black. It will also darken green foliage, adding some extra contrast to your landscape scenes.

5. Make a monotone. Making your pictures appear cooler isn’t the most obvious thing to do, but if faced with overcast conditions or mist, you could exploit the cool look with a blue 80A filter. Look for scenes with a wide range of tones, especially misty or hazy conditions, and give them an almost monotone appearance.