Filters aren’t just for faces—they’re for landscapes that sing.
No kitten faces, no unicorns, no rainbows. Just pure, magical control over light and mood. From sunrise to sunset, glass filters in front of your lens are like a painter’s brush — subtle, powerful, transformative.
The Problem: Where’s My Sky?
Ever shoot a sunrise or sunset only to see your photo looks flat? Or the sky is burned out, the foreground too dark, and nothing matches the beauty you see with your eyes? Your camera sees everything as one exposure — it doesn’t know the drama in the clouds or the shimmer on the waves.
The Solution: Filters to the Rescue!
Enter filters: the real magic makers.
- Graduated Neutral Density (GND) Filters: Balance the sky and foreground — perfect for those dramatic seascapes.
- Reverse GND: Your secret weapon for sunrise — it brightens the horizon without blowing out the sky.
- Circular Polarizers: Cut reflections and enhance color contrast — yes, even that green in the tide pools pops.
- Big Neutral Density (ND) Filters: Slow down water, blur clouds, and turn movement into silky poetry.
Stack them, rotate them, experiment. They don’t lie, they don’t exaggerate — they just let your vision shine.
Pro Tip Alert!
Pro tip? Shoot both. It only takes a second, and sometimes the vertical ends up being the keeper.
Gear Tip Alert!
Gear tip!!!! Buy an L-Bracket
Behind the Shot
A graduated Neutral Density filter mounted on the from of my Sony camera, spirit level in place. Ready to shoot sunset with plenty of daylight left to find my composition.
Get the Gear: What I Use
I am a huge fan of graduated neutral density filters to help take my skies, and neutral density filters to darken the entire frame, helping me create my long exposures!
Try It Yourself
Try It Yourself:
- Mount your camera on a tripod.
- Select your filter(s) — start simple with a GND.
- Compose a scene with a strong horizon or reflective water.
- Adjust the filter until the sky and foreground are balanced.
- Snap multiple exposures, experiment with stacking, and review the results.
Challenge: Shoot a sunrise using a reverse GND and circular polarizer. Compare it to a shot without filters — notice the difference in drama and depth.
Dive deeper into the lessons and stories with my fine art photography books
Learn hands-on techniques in my photography workshops—practical, fun, and inspiring.
Bring peace, beauty, and storytelling into your space with fine art prints.
