Filter Out the Bad

If you're looking to create digital landscape art, your best friend (and sometimes your worst enemy) is the sun. The sun provides awe-inspiring sunrises and sunsets. But it also creates glare, harsh shadows and unwanted reflections.

In many cases, you can solve these problems with filters. For example, a polarizing filter will reduce glare. And a UV haze filter cuts down on the bluish cast that's common on sunny days. But you can also use an old photographer's trick to make the sun work for you.

Pros prefer to shoot outdoors in the early morning light. That's when the sunlight is least harsh. There's very little glare and the light is soft, producing pleasing photos - even without filters.

However, there are times when you won't have any choice but to shoot when the sun is shining brightly overhead. For those times, using a filter can mean the difference between an artful landscape and a wasted frame.