There are two filters I want really badly – a variable ND and a warming polarizer.
I want the variable ND to do special water effects with very long exposures. This is a neutral density filter that allows you to vary the density from 2 to 8 stops. Pretty cool. It makes it possible to get very long exposures for those wonderful moving water images. But I also want to try it on clouds, shadows, windy days and what not. I asked several accomplished photographers if they could only buy one filter, which one would it be? To a person they all replied “Variable ND.”
The other filter I want is a warning polarizer. This is a circular polarizer that also acts as a warming filter – two filters in one. Polarizer filters are used to darken skies and cut reflections from water, leaves, wet rocks and the like. Warming filters are used to make the image appear warmer and richer. Put the two together and you have a powerful combination.