If you’re not taking advantage of lens filters, this tutorial from one of our favorite instructors might just change your mind and enable you to capture outdoor photographs with a unique attention-grabbing look. These transformational accessories are among the most affordable there are and you’ll learn which ones Simon d’Entremont says you should have in your bag.

Simon is a well-respected nature and wildlife photographer based in beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada. He’s also a globally popular educator who says the mission of his instructional YouTube channel is to “lift the knowledge, skills, and spirits of the people around me so they can be at their best.”

In the next 11 minute’s Simon describes his favorite types of filters, when and how to use them, and how they affect exposure. He also provides a link in the description the beneath the video where you can purchase filters that meet your needs, along with other accessories that he finds particularly helpful.

The question isn’t if filters will enhance your results, but rather which ones are most appropriate for your specific genre of photography. One warning up front is to avoid purchasing cheap no-name brands because it’s silly and counterproductive to mount an inferior product on a good lens just to save a few bucks.

Simon’s recommendations span the gamut from neutral density (ND) filters, polarizers, protective UV filters, and even mist filters. His bottom line is that some of these are must-have accessories—especially if you regularly photograph landscapes and/or nature and wildlife imagery.

The next step, after making your choice, is to understand exactly how they work, mistakes to avoid, and exactly what effects to expect. Simon illustrates his practical real-world advice with beautiful photos that drive these points home

The video concludes with several buying tips, including the most important features to look for. Once you’re done, head over to Simon’s popular YouTube channel which is a great source of inspiration for everyone who shoots in the field.

And don’t miss the tutorial we featured recently with a post-processing expert who demonstrates a straightforward Lightroom technique for enhancing Blue Hour photographs with beautiful, soft light.

Experienced outdoor photographers understand why shooting into the sun is a sure-fire way to capture attention-grabbing images with a unique look. Achieving correct exposures can be challenging for beginners who don’t understand the technique, but this tutorial from the Wildlife with Rich YouTube channel quickly demystifies this process so you can get in on the action today.

Here’s how Rich describes the four-minute episode: “We’ll reveal five easy tips that make backlighting a breeze. We cover everything from getting a correct exposure and positioning considerations, to editing methods for adding this dramatic effect to your everyday toolkit.”

Rich says the main issue when it comes to backlighting is the wide dynamic range that you’ll confront when shooting towards the sun. Simply put, “If we’re able to make the right decisions in the camera, we’re able to maximize the amount of detail we retain in both the key subject and the sky.

Tip #1 is to carefully evaluate the position of the sun in relation to the subject and the vantage point from which you shoot. Rich explains that “the closer the sun is to directly behind a subject, the more contrast there will be between this key element and the background.” This is why it’s necessary to apply a few thoughtful tricks that will balance all the tones from highlights to shadows to everything in between.

Rich then describes why  he recommends underexposing an image by 2/3 of a stop. As he says, this will allow you to retain important details within the highlights and bring back details in the shadows. Doing this requires as much data as possible, which is why shooting in Raw is a big benefit that offers far more control during post processing.

He explains why shooting in raw “helps us recover missing details without introducing too much unsightly noise.” You’ll watch Rich demonstrate practical applications for the foregoing and his other helpful tips in the field while photographing birds circling overhead with everchanging light.

If you enjoy wildlife and nature Photography be sure to visit the Wildlife with Rich YouTube channel for more tips and techniques.

And on a related note, don’t miss a tutorial we featured recently with another accomplished outdoor shooter who demonstrates how to embrace harsh, midday light coming from any direction and use it to capture spectacular high-contrast photographs.

You know the drill: back from the field, memory cards full, and hours of editing looming. But what if you could cut that time in half—and still make your images look better than ever?

In the YouTube video embedded below, wildlife and nature photographer Simon d’Entremont dropped a treasure trove of lesser-known Lightroom Classic features. These aren’t gimmicks—they’re real, time-saving, quality-boosting tools that outdoor photographers can put to use immediately. Here are his eight Lightroom hacks that stood out. (Make sure to watch the full video at the bottom of this post to see all these Lightroom tips and tricks explained.)

1. Targeted Color Adjustments Without Guesswork

Stop fiddling with random sliders. Use the Targeted Adjustment Tool in the HSL panel to click directly on your image and drag up or down to adjust color saturation or luminance. It’s a dead-simple way to fine-tune tricky tones—like green grass, brown fur, or moody skies—on the first try.

2. Sharpen Only What Matters

Don’t amplify background noise just to get a sharper subject. Hold Alt/Option while adjusting the Masking slider in the Detail panel to apply sharpening only to high-texture areas—like feathers, fur, or eyes—while leaving smooth backgrounds untouched.

3. Reveal Hidden Dust Spots Instantly

Shoot lots of skies? You’re probably sitting on a few sneaky dust spots. In the Healing tool, check “Visualize Spots” and use the slider to highlight sensor dust like a forensic light. Then zap it with a click.

4. Fine-Tune Exposure Without Clipping

Hold Alt/Option while adjusting the Whites and Blacks sliders in the Basic panel to see exactly when you’re clipping highlights or shadows. It’s the easiest way to maximize dynamic range while preserving detail in everything from eagle heads to snowfields.

5. Straighten Horizons in Seconds

Crooked shots? Use the Straighten tool next to the Crop panel’s Angle setting. Click and drag along your horizon line—even across mountain ranges or lake shores—and Lightroom will snap your image level. Easy, fast, done.

6. One-Click Mask Previews

When using masking tools like the Brush or Radial Filter, tap O to show where the effect is applied. Tap it again to hide the overlay. It’s a quick way to avoid over-editing or missing the target.

7. Create Panoramas Without Photoshop

Lightroom can merge multiple overlapping images into a seamless panorama with a simple Photo Merge > Panorama command. Add an Auto Crop, fine-tune the tones, and boom—you’ve got a wall-worthy Milky Way shot stitched entirely in Lightroom.

8. Cull Thousands of Images in Minutes

Speed up your workflow with two killer tricks: import using Embedded & Sidecar Previews and enable Auto Advance. That way, you can blast through a shoot with P (Pick) and X (Reject) keys—no preview lag, no wasted time.

The post 8 Lightroom Hacks Every Outdoor Photographer Should Know appeared first on Outdoor Photographer.

By the time you’re reading this letter, I’ll be far away. But this isn’t a farewell – just the opposite. As we speak, I’m photographing high up in the Ecuadorian Andes on the western slopes of the Pichincha volcano. My plans for the coming weeks are anything but modest. In addition to shooting and hunting for inspiration for future articles, I’ll be testing some new gear and filming a few Online Workshops with some fascinating photographers. I won’t reveal the names or topics just yet, leaving it as a surprise. In the meantime, let’s take a look at what’s already out there. Here’s a quick roundup of last week’s photography news.