Section 2 lens filters Filters are glass attachments that are fixed on to the front of the lens. Essentially they block, or filter, colours in the spectrum of white light to change the look of a photograph. They range from the extremely creative filters, which are great for special effects, to the popular `skylight' filters, which have little effect beyond the removal of ultraviolet light and protecting the lens from dirt and scratches. It is advisable to always have one of these filters attached on to the front of your camera. Polarising filters are very popular and an incredibly useful tool to enhance a huge variety of everyday scenes, as they help to minimise or remove reflections, haze and bright light.