On the Road with HGX Prime Filters

I am Rohit Gomashe, aka @gomzzzzzzzzzz on Instagram, a travel landscape and adventure photographer. I shoot with a Sony alpha A7R3 paired with Sony 16-35 GM F/2.8 and Sony 100-400 GM F/4.5 lenses. I also use a DJI Mavic 3 drone for aerial shots. Having a hybrid job as a Software Engineer enables me to spend more time in beautiful locations; I camp out of my modified Jeep in different places every other weekend.

As a photographer, I am always on the hunt for good light. My favorite time of day to shoot is golden hour followed by blue hour. Light plays a crucial role in creating compelling images. But it’s not always possible for me to be at the right spot during sunrise or sunset to capture that perfect light. That’s when my favorite camera accessories like the HGX Prime CPL and Variable ND filters from ProMaster come into play.

Here are some key reasons why light is crucial in my photography:

Sufficient light allows my camera to capture details, textures and colors accurately. Without enough light the image may look underexposed and lack details in shadows. On the other hand, harsh daylight can blow up the highlight details in the shot.
Proper light adds shape, depth and dimension to the image. It is also very important to be in the right location to capture the perfect angle of light falling on the subject or in my case the landscape. I always aim to accomplish 3D looking images with the help of light and shadows. Clouds are my best friends who act as a softbox to lit up the subject.
I prefer to shoot during sunrise and sunsets because I love how the light can influence the mood of the shot. For example, we get warm golden tones during sunset and cool blue tones during twilight. Such light conditions enable me to capture dramatic shots.
Using sun as a backlight source can create beautiful silhouettes. Whereas soft glow of sun through clouds helps viewers draw their attention to the main subject. It’s very important to understand natural and artificial light sources to use them to create the most impactful photographs.
I usually keep white balance around 5K while shooting timelapses and keep WB on auto while taking individual shots. It’s simple to fix the white balance in post processing using tools like lightroom and photoshop.

CPL

A ProMaster HGX Prime circular polarizer (CPL) filter can be attached to the front of the camera lens to help reduce glare and reflections, enhance colors and contrast, and improve overall image quality.

Enhancing Colors and Contrast

A benefit of using a circular polarizer is that it can enhance the colors and contrast in your images. The filter can help saturate colors, making them more vibrant and striking. It can also enhance contrast, making images appear sharper and more defined.

This is particularly useful when photographing blue skies, green foliage, or colorful objects. The circular polarizer can help bring out the true colors of the scene and create more impactful images.

Reducing Glare and Reflections

One of the most common uses of a circular polarizer is to reduce glare and reflections. When shooting outdoors, surfaces such as water, glass, and shiny objects can reflect light and create unwanted reflections in your images. This can be particularly frustrating when trying to capture landscapes or outdoor scenes.

By using a circular polarizer, you can reduce these reflections and capture clearer, more detailed images. The filter works by blocking out light that is polarized in a specific direction, which is often the direction of reflected light.

Improving Image Quality

In addition to reducing glare and enhancing colors, a circular polarizer can also improve the overall quality of your images. By reducing the effects of haze and atmospheric pollution, the filter can help create clearer, sharper images.

This is particularly useful when shooting in humid or foggy conditions, where the air can often be hazy and reduce image clarity. The filter can also help reduce the amount of UV light that enters the lens, which can create a bluish tint in your images.

Protecting Your Lens

Lastly, a circular polarizer can help protect your lens from scratches, dust, and other debris when you are hiking to various places. The filter can act as a barrier between your lens and the outside environment, which can be particularly useful when shooting in harsh or dusty conditions.

Circular polarizers are a must-have accessory for any photographer looking to improve the quality of their images. By reducing glare and reflections, enhancing color and contrast, and improving image quality, these filters can help you achieve the desired results in your photography.

Whether you're shooting landscapes, portraits, or still life, a circular polarizer is a valuable tool that can help you achieve stunning and professional-looking results.

VND

Variable ND (Neutral Density) filters are a versatile and useful tool for any photographer or videographer looking to take control of their exposure settings. These filters are designed to reduce the amount of light entering the lens, without affecting the color or contrast of the image.

Here are some of the benefits of using a variable ND filter on your lens:

Control Exposure Settings

One of the most significant benefits of using a variable ND filter is that it allows you to control the amount of light entering the lens, giving you greater control over exposure settings.

This is particularly useful when shooting in bright conditions where a slower shutter speed is needed to capture motion blur, or a shallow depth of field is desired.

Create Motion Blur

By reducing the amount of light entering the lens, a variable ND filter allows you to use slower shutter speeds, which can create motion blur in your images.

This is particularly useful when photographing moving subjects such as waterfalls, cars, or sports events.

Achieve a Shallow Depth of Field

Variable ND filters also allow you to achieve a shallow depth of field by using wider apertures. This can be useful when shooting portraits, still life, or other subjects where you want to isolate the subject from the background.

Versatility

Variable ND filters are versatile and can be used in a variety of shooting situations. They are ideal for landscape photography, portrait photography, and videography, as they allow you to adjust exposure settings quickly and easily without having to change filters.

Convenience

Variable ND filters are also convenient to use. They eliminate the need for multiple ND filters of different strengths, as you can easily adjust the amount of light reduction with a single filter.

Variable ND filters are a must-have accessory for any photographer or videographer looking to take control over their exposure settings.

They allow you to achieve the desired results, whether it's capturing motion blur, achieving a shallow depth of field, or adjusting exposure settings in bright conditions. They are versatile, convenient, and a valuable tool in any photographer's toolkit.