Show Notes

What do filters do to an image? 

I went to Spey Bay in Scotland to walk you through my new Kase filter kit. I decided a while ago that I needed to change the filters that I was using for my landscape photography because what I was using was a big old mix of various brands. And after 10 years of solid use they had quite a few scratches and embellishments.

I conducted some research and after much deliberation I settled on Kase filters, so I invested in the system (I'm not sponsored by Kase and I bought this kit with my own money). So far, I am thoroughly delighted in how the system works. There are several design features which I think are really clever and I'm looking forward to using them more and more. 

I also wanted to demonstrate what physical neutral density filters can do to an image, especially when in the field. Filters can be quite intimidating when first starting out with them and it can be confusing as to what they do, so I work through my new kit and explain when or for what you might want to use a neutral density filter. 

Let me know what you think about filters in the comments below, especially which brands you have found useful!

As I am learning how to make videos, with each new one I am proving and creating a better YouTube channel, so please subscribe and follow along on this journey!

Onto the Images

I decided to not over complicate the composition of the comparison images because, the idea was to focus on the differences between the images and the effects that the filters had on the landscape.

So the images themselves may not be very interesting, but I hope you find the comparison useful and that you can learn a bit more about filters.

As you can see the differences between the gradient filters is minimal but it does have an impact on the resulting image.

Soft gradient filters are used when the sky is brighter than the foreground or middle ground, or the subject of the image. So to prevent burning the sky away, and having no pixels in the image, landscape photographers use neutral density filters to darken it to an acceptable level.

You can buy them in soft, medium or hard gradients. Soft gradients are used most often because they have a gentle transition into the dark, which means if a part of your subject is above the horizon it won’t become a black blob.

Whereas hard gradients have a strong dark line in the middle and are useful when the horizon is completely flat, like at the seaside. And medium gradients sit between the 2.

A reverse gradient by contrast is dark in the middle and will get lighter towards the top of the filter, and as I explained in the video it’s useful for sunset/sunrises, particularly at the seaside.

As I explain in the video a polariser filter bends the light from reflective surfaces, for example in the image above you should be able to see that the lighter patches of the sea are missing when the polariser is used.

Furthermore because it is bending the light, if there is haze in a scene, then the polariser can help reduce the effect of the light passing through water vapour, rendering a clearer landscape.

Because it is reducing the effect of surface reflections, colours are often more saturated than without a polariser.

The solid neutral density filters are one of the best ways to add some creative approaches to landscape photography, as they are essentially shades for the camera.

They are restricting the light entering the camera which in turn slows down the shutter speed and the longer the shutter speed the more movement is recorded, creating blended effects.

Looking at the images now I can see that the 10 stop filter has a very slight colour cast but it is significantly less than the Hi-Tech one I have now and it is even less than the 6 stop Lee neutral density filter.

The amazing thing that you need to remember when watching this video is that you can use more than one filter at one time. If you wanted to, you could clip on the magnetic polariser, then the 10 stop solid and lastly the 4 stop soft gradient to balance out an image and create something a little different.

Filters are one of those accessories which separates the results of a DSLR from that of a phone.

Overall I am really impressed with the quality of the Kase filters and everything that they supplied in the kit. I think the holder is intelligently designed and the carry bag is brilliant!

I can’t recommend them enough!

I hope you are looking forward to the next instalment! Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

About the Film

Just a little information about the film and how I made it, as well as some links to equipment.

I edited the film using the Free Version of DaVinci Resolve. It’s an incredibly powerful piece of software that I am still trying to understand and will possibly write an article about in the future.

The music in this video is a track that I licensed from Premium Beats by ShutterStock called:

Bon Voyage by Origami Pigeon.

A short Kit List

These are affiliate links, which means if you follow them and make a purchase I will earn a small commission for referring you to Amazon UK. You can find out more about affiliate links here.

Main Vlog Camera is a simple Panasonic G80 with the kit lens, its a great little mirrorless camera that I got for the sole purpose of creating YouTube videos. It’s capable of filming in 4k and seems to do everything that I want it to.

Rode Mic, I got this little microphone to boost the audio quality from the inbuilt microphone.

Action Camera, I use this to film myself when walking. It’s a simple DJI Pocket Osmo camera that has a motorised 3 axis gimbal head, which means that I stay in focus and static while the landscape around me moves. It’s also capable of filming in 4k and the audio quality is quite good.

Voice Recorder, to boost the audio quality when it’s windy or I’m using the action camera I use this handy little voice recorder with a lapellier microphone to record audio.

For a complete Landscape Photography Kit List you can read through what equipment I take with me when I go out here.

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Written by Daniel Long

Daniel Long created DRL Photography as a place to showcase his work as a photographer. Daniel has learnt a lot about photography and wishes to impart this knowledge with you, although the world is an ever changing place and he always says “you can never learn everything.” So as he makes his way, he continues to learn knew techniques, skills and information about photography. He focuses on Landscape and Wildlife photography and Daniel has a special focus on Scotland, his home away from home. As well as writing about photography and taking pictures out in the field, Daniel offers guided photography days so he can share his knowledge and locations in an effort to give his clients the best opportunities possible. Have a browse around this website to see his images, guided experiences and articles about photography. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in contact.