The reasoning behind getting a filter is sometimes hard to justify because honestly, no filter can substitute being at the right place with perfect natural lighting. But, that photographer’s heaven I just described is a lot harder to plan for and is mostly just the luck of the sun, clouds, and everything else falling right into place. So, when properly used, filters can transform that harsh or really any issue with lighting into an awesome shot. Filters allow a photographer to alter the natural settings into ideal lighting.
Jason describes that a neutral density filter is a dark/tinted piece of glass that come in a variety of different shades. A neutral density filter “allows you to open your aperture wide open to have a shallow depth of field on a really light day” and can cut down excessive exposure editing after the fact. Out of all the different brands of filters, Jason recommends the Hoya ND8, for its amazing value and good quality. This specific filter is not the cream of the crop, but it cuts out enough light and the value makes it a very popular choice too.
