Some people think camera filters are no longer needed in this digital age. With powerful image editing software and trendy HDR techniques, it's easy to believe this fallacy. But filters are just as important in nature photography today as they were decades ago.

I use filters in almost all of my outdoor pictures - especially in my landscapes - and consider them to be my most effective tools for creating amazing shots. Learn how to use these invaluable filters yourself in this 4-week course so that you, too, can create stunning pictures right in the camera without a lick of time at the computer.

• Week 1: Introduction to Filters & Filter Systems
  • This first week is designed to get you familiar with filters, how they work, what options are available and what you should invest in. I'll teach you about rectangular filter systems like the Cokin Filter System and the Lee Filter System, how they work and what their advantages are. You'll finish this lesson with a new understanding of what the pros use for nature photography. Topics covered include:
    • How filters work
    • How to meter with filters
    • How to use rectangular filter systems like the Cokin filter holder and Lee filter holder
    • What brands are best and which ones to stay away from
• Week 2: UV Filters, Polarizers, Neutral Density and Enhancers
  • I'll teach you about 3 important filters to nature photography - the UV filter, polarizer and neutral density filters. I'll break down each one, showing you what to buy, what purpose each filter serves, when and how to use them. Then I'll show you how to get the same effect as 3 common filters just with some simple technique behind the camera and some easy, quick adjustments in post-production.
    • What UV filters are, what brands are good and whether or not to use one
    • What a circular polarizer is and what it does
    • How to properly use a circular polarizer
    • How to get more vivid colors with the use a polarizer
    • When a polarizer will actually make the image worse
    • What a neutral density filter is and what purpose it serves
    • How to use a neutral density filter and how to meter with it
    • How to use a neutral density filter to get that cotton look to moving water
    • How to get the same effect as a color enhancing filter with a very quick adjustment in the computer
    • How to turn pinpoints of light (like the sun) into pointed stars without any digital manipulation
    • How to use White Balance to get correct colors or mimic a warming filter, cooling filter or color correcting filter
    • Video Presentation: Using White Balance to Alter Colors
• Week 3: The Key to Great Landscape Exposures: Graduated ND Filters
  • I use graduated neutral density filters (also called split neutral density filters or grad ND filters) in almost every single one of my landscapes. They are, hands-down, the most important tool I have for creating beautiful nature pictures. If you want to know the secret to my gorgeous scenics, these split NDs are the place to start. They are the single best investment you can make for your nature and travel photography, and they will fix the common problem of blown-out skies. My professional lenses aren't the reason for my amazing landscapes, correct use of these filters are. That's why I've devoted the final 2 weeks of this course to their use.
    • What graduated neutral density filters are
    • How to use them properly including how to place them, how to meter with them and how to choose the right density
    • How to use split NDs to fix the problem of blown-out skies or foregrounds that are too dark
    • What brands and options are available
    • What to buy and what you can expect to spend
    • What the different transition types are and when to use each
    • Where to place the transition of your split ND filter
    • Tons of example images and accompanying diagrams showing where I placed the split ND
      
    • Video Presentation: Using Split ND Filters
• Week 4: Advanced Graduated ND Filter Techniques & Filter Care
  • Graduated ND filters are so important to nature photography that I've devoted almost the entire 4th week of this course to some advanced topics regarding their use. You'll learn how to get the most precise placement possible, how to filter for scenes that have bright mountains or cliffs in the background, how to use these filters to get creative with the sky and how to use split NDs in scenes with reflections. Then we'll finish off the course with tips on proper care, transport and cleaning of all your filters.
    • How to spot incorrect filter placement in your photos
    • How to get the most precise filter placement possible
    • How to use the depth of field preview button to get accurate placement
    • How to identify exactly where to place the transition of your filter
    • How to use split NDs to make the sky look more dramatic
    • How to properly use split NDs in scenes with prominent reflections
    • The best ways to store your filters
    • How to clean your filters properly
    • Video Presentation: Filtering for Scenes With Reflections

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Intermediate to Advanced

This course is for anyone who wants to take their nature photography to the next level through the use of filters. If you find yourself falling into any of the following categories, then this course will be right up your alley:

• If you've ever taken a landscape where the foreground looked good but the sky blew out white
• If you've ever taken a landscape where the sky looked good but the foreground was too dark
• If you're eager to learn how to properly use a circular polarizer or neutral density filter
• If you want to know how to use graduated neutral density filters like a pro
• If you want to spend less time in front of the computer trying to fix your images
• If you're confused or overwhelmed with all the filters on the market
• If you want to learn about the different rectangular filter systems by Cokin and Lee
• If you want richer colors in your nature images
• If you want to know my secret to getting such vivid colors and skies in my pictures

You don't need to already have filters or even know how they work in order to enroll. The material in this course will introduce you to different filter systems, options, types and brands so you can learn what to invest in.

I go into some relatively advanced topics with graduated neutral density filters and how to properly use them that require the student to know how to shoot in full manual per my manual metering techniques (see "Requirements" section below). As such, this course is marked for Intermediate to Advanced students. If you complete the How to Shoot in Full Manual online course as per the stated prerequisite, you'll be prepared to take this course.

If you’re still not sure whether this course is right for you, please drop me a line at .

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• Completion of the "How to Shoot in Full Manual" Online Course - buy both together and save!
• DSLR camera recommended
• Tripod recommended
• No filters required before enrollment

Some of the techniques covered in this course requires that the student understand how to shoot in full manual per my technique for manual metering. As such, completion of the How to Shoot in Full Manual online course is a prerequisite for enrollment. Both courses can be purchased together at a reduced rate - click here for info. Exceptions can be made for students who have received private tutoring or have attended one of my seminars covering manual metering and have a firm grasp on the process.

A digital SLR camera isn't technically required for this course since filters can really be used on any type of camera, but a DSLR is highly recommended as this course addresses using filters for DSLR cameras only. The brand of DSLR doesn't matter. A tripod is also recommended for full application of the materials.

You don't need to currently own any filters in order to enroll and benefit from this course. In fact, this course aims to help you figure out what filters to invest in, what brands to buy and what systems are available.

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This course is composed of:

• 4 weekly lesson guides
  • 113 pages in all
  • 20,289 words in all
  • 240 example images total
  • 65 illustrations and diagrams
  • 4 assignments
• 3 video presentations
  • 25 minutes in all
• Unlimited email support from Nick Carver
• Image feedback and critiques

Although this course is “4 weeks,” you can take the course at whatever pace works for your schedule. All 4 weekly lesson guides will be available to you from day 1. Study as fast or slow as you wish and complete assignments whenever you’re ready. To learn more about how the course works, visit this information page.

Throughout the course, you will have unlimited email support with a direct address to Nick Carver. Emails are typically answered within 2 business days depending on my volume of emails. Phone and/or online chat support is also available for an additional charge. Drop me a line for rates at .

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