How to use a Skylight Filter
Skylight filters are attached to the lens of a camera to filter out UV (ultra-violet) light. In color film, UV causes a bluish haze. In both color and black and white film UV fuzzes up distance objects so that they loose their clarity of line. If too much UV is present, the image is distorted regardless of if the camera records the image via film or digital sensors.
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Instructions
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Consider the setting in which you are shooting. Choose what degree of UV filtration you want your skylight filter to provide based on the photo setting.
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Decide which manufacturer and grade of filter you want. Some manufacturers grind finer lenses, so the reputation for quality varies. The Photofilter website gives a good overview of what's available.
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Check the diameter of the lens you want to attach the skylight filter to.
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Select a skylight filter that is the correct size to fit the lens you want to attach it to.
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Screw the filter onto the end of the lens, make sure it is not cross-threaded with the lens. This can cause gaps in the fitting and cause UV leakage.
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Tips & Warnings
Skylight filters are excellent for screening out UV light in average settings, but if you are photographing in a setting where UV light is intensified, you may want to consider one of a variety of haze filters, which are offered in grades to filter out various percentages of UV light.
Settings where UV light is especially intense include high altitude or aerial photography because UV light waves are stronger in thinner atmospheres and areas near water or snow--both are excellent reflectors of UV light.
