I am looking for a filter to make the sky more blue...

And I am also looking for a different filter to make sunsets more vibrant....(orange, yellow)



I don't know very much about filters and thats why I am asking on here. What filters would you recommend for these needs?? Also, Any 'in camera' tips for shooting sunsets? Thanks for your help...

 

circular polarizer for a bluer sky

 

The only filters you need in your bag are a circular polarizer and perhaps some neutral density filters. Pretty well every other effect you can imagine can be achieved in post processing. I'm a firm believer in using filters to enable you to get a shot, but if they don't extend the capabilities of the camera, I'd rather have full control in photoshop.

Filters are kind of a mixed bag. One one hand, they help you to achieve an effect. On the other, anything you put between your lens and the subject will degrade quality. Because of that, I would only look at Hoya HMC, B+W, or Schneider for your filters. They're quite expensive, but if you're going to use a filter, it should be a good one, otherwise you'll be frustrated with the results.

The circular polarizer lets you dial in a deeper blue sky, and it lets you remove reflections from glass or water. Sometimes you can use the polarizer to make foliage greener. There isn't any way to remove reflections in photoshop, but you could fake the polarized sky effect to some extent.

Neutral density filters are really just sunglasses for your camera. They let you use a longer shutter speed in bright conditions. This is helpful for capturing waterfalls or other moving subjects when you want some motion blur in the shot. There's no realistic way of achieving these effects in post. In a pinch, you can use a circular polarizer as a 1 to 2 stop ND filter.

Other filters like UV or "haze" filters are really more for protection in harsh conditions than anything else today. They used to have more of an effect in film days, but most (if not all) digital cameras have a UV filter in front of sensor, so the effect is already there in your shots today. Adding a UV filter to your lens will help protect the front element from fingerprints or blowing sand, but like any filter, it's going to degrade image quality. That's why I only recommend using one when you're in blowing sand or sea spray.

 

Cool, thank you guys for the responses. I think I'll probably go with a circular polarizer first. Now with a circular polarizer, do you have to rotate it to achieve the desired effect? And, also what is the most common ND filter that people use for flowing water & nature scenes? I dont need a ND filter thats too intense, just one that gets the job done...

 

Yes, rotating the polarizer adjusts the effect it has. You look through the viewfinder while rotating it to see where you need it to be. There is also a white tick mark on the filter to help you line it up correctly in relation to the sun, but I just look through the viewfinder to get it where i want.