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An In-Depth Guide to Lens Filters: How they Work and Do you Need Them?
by Keenan Hursh
There are countless ways to alter the look and feel of an image. Whether it’s a change in composition, lighting, camera settings, or really anything else you can capture an infinite number of unique photographs of the same subject. This notion both excites me and simultaneously causes a sense of anxiety. There are unlimited creative possibilities but if that’s the case how can I ensure I’m photographing a subject in the best way possible?
In short, this is impossible to know, and at the end of the day the term “best” is incredibly subjective and will be different for everyone. What you can do however is choose how you’d like to photograph a subject or scene in your own unique perspective. Photography is an art form and a method of self-expression, so the creative decisions are ultimately up to you.
To circle back to the opening statement, there are countless ways to alter the look and feel of an image. In today’s article, we’re going to discuss one of these methods; A specific type of tool that can greatly alter the way light enters your camera and thus the images you can capture. Today, we’re going to take a deep dive into the world of lens filters, how they work, specific scenarios in which you may want to use them, and whether or not you need them at all.
Let’s get into it!
In short, this is impossible to know, and at the end of the day the term “best” is incredibly subjective and will be different for everyone. What you can do however is choose how you’d like to photograph a subject or scene in your own unique perspective. Photography is an art form and a method of self-expression, so the creative decisions are ultimately up to you.
To circle back to the opening statement, there are countless ways to alter the look and feel of an image. In today’s article, we’re going to discuss one of these methods; A specific type of tool that can greatly alter the way light enters your camera and thus the images you can capture. Today, we’re going to take a deep dive into the world of lens filters, how they work, specific scenarios in which you may want to use them, and whether or not you need them at all.
Let’s get into it!
What are Lens Filters?
Lens filters are often considered essential components of a photographer's toolkit. Quite simply, a lens filter is an optical device that attaches to your camera’s lens and alters the way light enters your camera. These attachments, typically made from high-quality glass or optical resin, are meticulously designed to alter the properties of incoming light before it reaches the camera's sensor. This modification of light serves various purposes, ranging from correcting color imbalances and accounting for changes in environmental light to achieving artistic effects that can elevate the visual impact of photographs.
And this technology has been around for quite some time. The inception of lens filters can be traced back to the early days of photography when cameras were bulky and film technology was in its infancy. In the 19th century, when photographers used large-format cameras with glass plates, the necessity to control light and its properties became apparent. And as photography continued to advance, the use of filters gained prominence. In the early 20th century, the introduction of color photography further fueled the need for filters to manipulate and enhance color rendition.
With the transition from film to digital photography, the role of lens filters has evolved to accommodate new challenges and opportunities. Modern lens filters are meticulously crafted using advanced materials, precision engineering, and multi-coating technologies. These enhancements ensure minimal impact on image quality while achieving specific desired effects.
Today, photographers have a wide array of filters at their disposal, each tailored to address particular scenarios and creative aspirations. From subtle adjustments to bold transformations, lens filters offer a world of creative opportunities.
Lens filters are an excellent way to gain greater creative control over the images you’re capturing and can offer an additional line of protection to the front element of your lens. Whether you’re trying to create a dramatic visual effect or simply compensate for some aspect of environmental lighting a lens filter might be just the right tool for the job.
Lens filters are often considered essential components of a photographer's toolkit. Quite simply, a lens filter is an optical device that attaches to your camera’s lens and alters the way light enters your camera. These attachments, typically made from high-quality glass or optical resin, are meticulously designed to alter the properties of incoming light before it reaches the camera's sensor. This modification of light serves various purposes, ranging from correcting color imbalances and accounting for changes in environmental light to achieving artistic effects that can elevate the visual impact of photographs.
And this technology has been around for quite some time. The inception of lens filters can be traced back to the early days of photography when cameras were bulky and film technology was in its infancy. In the 19th century, when photographers used large-format cameras with glass plates, the necessity to control light and its properties became apparent. And as photography continued to advance, the use of filters gained prominence. In the early 20th century, the introduction of color photography further fueled the need for filters to manipulate and enhance color rendition.
With the transition from film to digital photography, the role of lens filters has evolved to accommodate new challenges and opportunities. Modern lens filters are meticulously crafted using advanced materials, precision engineering, and multi-coating technologies. These enhancements ensure minimal impact on image quality while achieving specific desired effects.
Today, photographers have a wide array of filters at their disposal, each tailored to address particular scenarios and creative aspirations. From subtle adjustments to bold transformations, lens filters offer a world of creative opportunities.
Lens filters are an excellent way to gain greater creative control over the images you’re capturing and can offer an additional line of protection to the front element of your lens. Whether you’re trying to create a dramatic visual effect or simply compensate for some aspect of environmental lighting a lens filter might be just the right tool for the job.
Different Types of Lens Filters
Let’s take a look at different types of lens filters and the specific benefits or effects they provide. There are countless options currently available for purchase these days, which is great, but for today’s article, we’re going to focus on the most popular and common filters used in photography specifically.
Let’s take a look at different types of lens filters and the specific benefits or effects they provide. There are countless options currently available for purchase these days, which is great, but for today’s article, we’re going to focus on the most popular and common filters used in photography specifically.
UV Filters
UV filters were quite popular in the past when film photography was dominant. These filters were primarily used to block ultraviolet light, which could cause a bluish haze in certain outdoor shots. However, UV filters are still widely used in today’s world of digital and mirrorless cameras. Because these filters don’t affect the light entering your camera’s sensor, they are primarily used to protect your lens's front element without noticeably compromising image quality. If you drop your lens or something hits it, I’d rather have a $100 filter break than the lens itself. Some photographers argue that there is a minute difference in quality and refuse to use these filters in normal shooting conditions but I have yet to observe this for myself. That being said, spending a bit of extra money to purchase higher-quality glass is never a bad idea.
UV filters were quite popular in the past when film photography was dominant. These filters were primarily used to block ultraviolet light, which could cause a bluish haze in certain outdoor shots. However, UV filters are still widely used in today’s world of digital and mirrorless cameras. Because these filters don’t affect the light entering your camera’s sensor, they are primarily used to protect your lens's front element without noticeably compromising image quality. If you drop your lens or something hits it, I’d rather have a $100 filter break than the lens itself. Some photographers argue that there is a minute difference in quality and refuse to use these filters in normal shooting conditions but I have yet to observe this for myself. That being said, spending a bit of extra money to purchase higher-quality glass is never a bad idea.
Circular Polarizers
Circular polarizing filters (CPLs) are immensely popular among photographers, especially in the world of landscapes. They are designed to reduce reflections from non-metallic surfaces like water and glass. If you’re capturing a landscape image and find that the glare from the sunlight reflecting off the water is distracting or overpowering your scene, a CPL will likely fix this issue. By rotating the filter, photographers can control the polarization effect, deepening blue skies, increasing color saturation, reducing glare and reflections, and improving overall image contrast. I almost always bring a circular polarizing filter with me whenever I go out.
Circular polarizing filters (CPLs) are immensely popular among photographers, especially in the world of landscapes. They are designed to reduce reflections from non-metallic surfaces like water and glass. If you’re capturing a landscape image and find that the glare from the sunlight reflecting off the water is distracting or overpowering your scene, a CPL will likely fix this issue. By rotating the filter, photographers can control the polarization effect, deepening blue skies, increasing color saturation, reducing glare and reflections, and improving overall image contrast. I almost always bring a circular polarizing filter with me whenever I go out.
Neutral Density (ND) Filters
ND filters are essential tools for controlling exposure in bright daylight conditions. Sure, you can reduce your shutter speed, ISO, and aperture but what if you want to capture a relatively long exposure image in broad daylight? Enter the ND filter. These devices uniformly reduce the amount of light entering the lens, allowing photographers to use longer shutter speeds or wider apertures even in bright daylight. This is particularly useful for achieving smooth, silky water effects in waterfalls or blurring motion in crowded places. I love using ND filters to capture a sense of motion or to portray the passing of time.
ND filters are essential tools for controlling exposure in bright daylight conditions. Sure, you can reduce your shutter speed, ISO, and aperture but what if you want to capture a relatively long exposure image in broad daylight? Enter the ND filter. These devices uniformly reduce the amount of light entering the lens, allowing photographers to use longer shutter speeds or wider apertures even in bright daylight. This is particularly useful for achieving smooth, silky water effects in waterfalls or blurring motion in crowded places. I love using ND filters to capture a sense of motion or to portray the passing of time.
Graduated Neutral Density (GND) Filters
GND filters are a variation of ND filters but come with a graduated density across the filter's surface. This means that the darkness of the filter or the amount of light it lets through gradually changes as you move across the surface of the filter. They are used in scenarios where there is a significant difference in exposure between parts of a composition such as the sky and the foreground. A great example of this is capturing either the sunrise or sunset where the sky is often quite bright, and the land can be quite dark as the sunlight hasn’t hit it yet. By positioning the filter correctly, photographers can balance the exposure and retain detail in both areas of the image.
GND filters are a variation of ND filters but come with a graduated density across the filter's surface. This means that the darkness of the filter or the amount of light it lets through gradually changes as you move across the surface of the filter. They are used in scenarios where there is a significant difference in exposure between parts of a composition such as the sky and the foreground. A great example of this is capturing either the sunrise or sunset where the sky is often quite bright, and the land can be quite dark as the sunlight hasn’t hit it yet. By positioning the filter correctly, photographers can balance the exposure and retain detail in both areas of the image.
Do You Actually Need Filters?
This all begs the question: Do you actually need filters for your photography? Of course, there is no clean-cut black-and-white answer to this question as photography is a subjective art form. I know many photographers who hardly ever use filters, many who use them all the time, and many, like myself, who fall somewhere in the middle only using them for specific situations.
I can of course provide some insights into my own use of filters, but this is simply how I chose to use them, and you’ll have to make these decisions for yourself and the situations you find yourself in. I hardly ever use filters when shooting wildlife. This is because I’m not trying to alter the light as it enters my lens. The only exception to this would be using a UV filter as a form of protection in certain scenarios or perhaps using a circular polarizer if I’m shooting birds on water or other marine animals where there could be significant glare and light reflections. Now, when I do find myself using filters quite often is when I’m shooting landscapes. I absolutely love portraying motion and the passage of time with neutral density filters and find myself using polarizing filters frequently either to change the appearance of the sky or the water or to control the reflection of light.
Of course, no photographer needs filters to capture stunning images, and with great post-processing software available, such as Adobe Lightroom, you can oftentimes create similar effects without the use of filters. That being said, I try to get as close to my final image as possible in camera before I start any editing and filters are a great way to do this. You’ll have to experiment with them for yourself but if you’ve never used lens filters before I would highly recommend experimenting with them and learning how they can expand your creative control in the field.
This all begs the question: Do you actually need filters for your photography? Of course, there is no clean-cut black-and-white answer to this question as photography is a subjective art form. I know many photographers who hardly ever use filters, many who use them all the time, and many, like myself, who fall somewhere in the middle only using them for specific situations.
I can of course provide some insights into my own use of filters, but this is simply how I chose to use them, and you’ll have to make these decisions for yourself and the situations you find yourself in. I hardly ever use filters when shooting wildlife. This is because I’m not trying to alter the light as it enters my lens. The only exception to this would be using a UV filter as a form of protection in certain scenarios or perhaps using a circular polarizer if I’m shooting birds on water or other marine animals where there could be significant glare and light reflections. Now, when I do find myself using filters quite often is when I’m shooting landscapes. I absolutely love portraying motion and the passage of time with neutral density filters and find myself using polarizing filters frequently either to change the appearance of the sky or the water or to control the reflection of light.
Of course, no photographer needs filters to capture stunning images, and with great post-processing software available, such as Adobe Lightroom, you can oftentimes create similar effects without the use of filters. That being said, I try to get as close to my final image as possible in camera before I start any editing and filters are a great way to do this. You’ll have to experiment with them for yourself but if you’ve never used lens filters before I would highly recommend experimenting with them and learning how they can expand your creative control in the field.
Conclusion
Lens filters are valuable tools that have been used in photography for decades. While advancements in post-processing technology have expanded creative possibilities, lens filters continue to be essential accessories for photographers seeking convenience, protection, greater creative control, and unique artistic effects. Whether you are a professional or an enthusiast, experimenting with different types of filters can add depth and diversity to your photography, enabling you to capture extraordinary moments with exceptional visual impact. Remember to invest in high-quality filters and choose the ones that suit your photography style and objectives best. With a well-chosen set of lens filters in your kit, you'll be better equipped to push the boundaries of your photography and create striking images that leave a lasting impression on your audience.
I hope this article has been informative and has inspired you to get out there and experiment with lens filters on your next shoot. Until next time!
Lens filters are valuable tools that have been used in photography for decades. While advancements in post-processing technology have expanded creative possibilities, lens filters continue to be essential accessories for photographers seeking convenience, protection, greater creative control, and unique artistic effects. Whether you are a professional or an enthusiast, experimenting with different types of filters can add depth and diversity to your photography, enabling you to capture extraordinary moments with exceptional visual impact. Remember to invest in high-quality filters and choose the ones that suit your photography style and objectives best. With a well-chosen set of lens filters in your kit, you'll be better equipped to push the boundaries of your photography and create striking images that leave a lasting impression on your audience.
I hope this article has been informative and has inspired you to get out there and experiment with lens filters on your next shoot. Until next time!
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AUTHOR
Keenan is an avid photographer, digital creator, and lover of the outdoors currently based out of Bozeman, Montana. He is originally from Boulder, Colorado where he developed a deep passion for getting outside and pursuing outdoor activities including skiing, cycling, hiking, rafting, backpacking and more. Recently he has developed new passions for paragliding as well as designing and sewing outdoor adventure gear for cyclists and hikers.
At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images. He pursues a wide range of photography styles primarily shooting landscapes, wildlife, adventure photography, and enjoys shooting analog on 35mm film every now and then.
Since graduating from the University of Denver with a degree in Emergent Digital Practices, Keenan has pursued a professional career in digital marketing, graphic design, and content creation. He has benefitted a wide range of companies and organizations from small start-ups to well known agencies and brands.
You can view Keenan’s photography and graphic design work on his website at www.keenanhurshmedia.com
At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images. He pursues a wide range of photography styles primarily shooting landscapes, wildlife, adventure photography, and enjoys shooting analog on 35mm film every now and then.
Since graduating from the University of Denver with a degree in Emergent Digital Practices, Keenan has pursued a professional career in digital marketing, graphic design, and content creation. He has benefitted a wide range of companies and organizations from small start-ups to well known agencies and brands.
You can view Keenan’s photography and graphic design work on his website at www.keenanhurshmedia.com
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"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations include Yosemite, Alaska, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Hawaii, Utah as well as Botswana & Costa Rica."
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
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