A review of when people should use filters

Alan Bohms notes that photography may look simple but it can be overwhelming at times. While learning how to take a picture can take up literally seconds, it takes years for many photographers to master different camera settings and know the right time and place to use these settings. For today’s blog, Alan Bohms discusses filters and how and when to effectively use them.

There are three main filters used in photography: the neutral density filter, polarizing filter, and UV filters. While they may be easy for most beginners to use, understanding their capabilities is key.

UV filters: UV filters are clear filters, which many photographers don’t bother removing once they are on unless they need to use another filter. They filter UV light from hitting the film, preventing any blue tints from coming out in images. UV filters are also great at protecting camera lenses, according to Alan Bohms.

Polarizing filters: Polarizing filters block polarized or reflected light from camera lenses, effectively eliminating glare. Alan Bohms mentions that the best times to use these filters are when shooting bodies of water, creating contrasts when shooting clouds, or reducing reflections on reflective surfaces like polished floors.

Neutral density (ND) filters: ND filters reduce the overall light that enters the lens, which can be quite useful when using slower shutter speeds. Alan Bohms says that this allows a photographer to achieve motion blur effects even in bright locations. For moving subjects, consider an ND filter.