The 3 Lens Filters Every Photographer Should Travel With

There’s no doubt travel photography can be a challenge.  Not only are you traveling to a new (and sometimes distant) location with camera gear, but you’re also at the mercy of whatever conditions are thrown your way.  Although you don’t want to pack too much gear while you travel, you still want to be prepared for anything you may face.  One way to be prepared for any condition, is to travel with camera lens filters. 
 
With so many technological advances in digital photography, it may be tempting to think that camera lens filters are outdated or even pointless.  Many photographers are reliant on the built-in editing tools in Lightroom and Photoshop to replicate or even replace the filter actions of a camera lens filter.  Although the photo editing tools we now use are highly developed, lens filters shouldn’t be tossed by the wayside--some filter actions can never truly be replicated with software.  Yes, you can achieve many effects with digital editing tools, but some lens filters have the ability to yield effects that would take a considerable amount of time or be near impossible to recreate digitally.  Not only that, but some lens filters will enable you to shoot in conditions that could otherwise damage your lens.  This creates more opportunities for the travel photographer.
 
Although there are many different lens filters with varying purposes, there are three lens filters you definitely want to have with you while you travel.
 

1. Polarizer Filter– This is a creative filter can be used for any type of photography.  A polarizer makes photos more vibrant by increasing contrast, enhancing colors, and reducing glare and reflections off of water and other surfaces. 
2. Neutral Density (ND) Filter – The ND filter is also a creative filter that is useful while shooting in strong natural sunlight.  It reduces the amount of light entering through your lens into the image sensor which reduces the shutter speed.  It’s particularly helpful when you need to capture smooth flow effect of waterfall or ocean movement, or when you shoot portraiture with reducing depth-of-field. The ND filter will capture images that your eyes can’t see and photo editing software can’t accomplish.   
3. Graduated Neutral Density filter (GND) – The GND filter is an essential tool in capturing scenes in a broad dynamic range by restricting the amount of light across an image in a smooth geometric pattern.  This filter works well with simple lighting scenarios like those common in landscape photography—it may even be considered a hidden secret of successful landscape photographers.

 
While you can’t control the weather, lighting, and other extrinsic conditions when you travel, you can control the equipment you bring with you.  Lens filters have the ability to capture images in difficult lighting conditions, enhance colors, reduce reflections, or simply protect lenses.  Lens filters can greatly enhance your photographs, but it’s important to use them properly and only when necessary to avoid jeopardizing your image quality.  So, don't rely on photo editing software for all your effects; get out there and have fun the traditional way with one of these three filters and discover how they can transform your images.

What's your favorite lens filter to travel with?  Is it one listed above or something different?  I'd love to hear from you!  

Happy Snapping!
Kirsten