A few years ago I attempted a landscape photography project, and me being me, that meant buying investing in some kit I’d had no call for until then as a portrait photographer, such as filters. The brand I opted for, and that everyone seemed to mention at the time, was Lee.
I purchased a number of Graduated Neutral Density (ND) Filters, Reverse ND Filters, Polarisers, Big Stopper, Little Stopper and so on, obviously in addition to the filter holding system, carry case and all.
The landscape photography venture didn’t really go much further than one photograph, but to be fair that was mainly because my 39-45 Portraits Project picked up a heck of a pace and took over.
Fast forward to March 2020 when circumstances dictated that I give the landscape stuff another try. I ventured out a few times taking along my Lee Filters but very soon they took a back seat, stayed on a shelf in my office and never saw the light of day.
Why?
Well to be honest they were a pain to use. I know lots of people the world over rave about them (the Lee filters I’m on about here) but they just weren’t for me. I found them fiddly. I found them awkward. Sliding filters into a holder on the front of my camera invariably meant I ended up moving my camera having set the focus. Adding or removing a filter wasn’t a quick process. I felt they took away from the experience of being out photographing the landscape rather than adding to it.
I could go on but what’s the point? I just didn’t like using them. I knew filters were an essential part of the kit but using them turned me off so I didn’t bother.
I’M USING FILTERS NOW THOUGH
I can’t help but make this sound like some oh so obvious cheesy sales pitch (I promise you it isn’t) but now I am using filters and loving it. I’m not using Lee Filters though, I’m using Filters made by H&Y (Handy).
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post or paid promotion AND I’m not being paid by H&Y.
Why?
Well, to be honest the main reason is that they’re so bloomin’ easy to use and attach. I can’t explain it any simpler.
After that all the other reasons kick in such as the quality, the strength, the range available and so it goes on. I plan on doing a short video soon just to show them when I’m out on location but for now here’s a short, official video from the folks at H&Y showing their wares…
Note: There is no audio in this video
VERY HAPPY
Reading back what I’m writing here I know it sounds like a sales pitch as I’ve already said. I can’t really avoid it sounding like one, but I promise you I’m getting no kick back from writing this. I’m just genuinely very happy using these filters. They’ve added heaps to the experience when I’m out photographing landscapes and seascapes because I can effortlessly (and that’s the key) see on the back of my camera what the resulting image will be like if I darken down the sky using a Graduated ND Filter, or if I drag the shutter by using a 6 Stop, a 10 Stop or even a 16 Stop ND Filter and so on.
I’ve quickly grown to love the experience of using them on location and instantly seeing the results.
Most importantly though, they are ALWAYS with me…
Sandymouth, Cornwall
6 Stop ND Filter and Circular Polariser plus 3 Stop Graduated ND Filter
Final Photograph
Out with my mate (and damn good landscape photographer) Doug Insole (www.douginsole.com) who also uses H&Y Filters
THE FILTERS I HAVE
At the very bottom of this post I’ve included a link so that you can download the latest brochure from H&Y that shows the range of filters and explains way more about them, but also, on my Gear Page in the menu at the top, I’ve listed all the filters I currently have; I say currently because there’s a couple of others I have my eye on that I just know will be invaluable in the coming weeks.
As a Portrait Photographer I never thought I’d be writing about how much I love using Photographic Filters, but this is what the last 18 months or so of living on restrictions and being unable to take portraits has done to me … and for that I’m thankful.
Filters are an essential part of landscape and seascape photography, and because they are, they need to be as much a part of the kit as the camera, lenses and tripod. That said though, they need to add to the experience by being quick and easy to use (as well as being great quality) rather than take from the experience because they’re fiddly and quite frankly, a pain to use.
They are, as I often say about the kit I choose to use, FIT FOR PURPOSE.
Cheers,
Glyn
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