Here are some of the software that help you to enhance, rescue and management your photos for FREE!!!

Pixmantec RawShooter essentials
RawShooter essentials is a fast, easy to use RAW image converter and processor that produces excellent results with minimal fuss.

Gimp
The GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring.

Restoration 2.5
This useful software can be used to restore pictures wiped from your memory card!

LeechGet 2004
This handy software breaks down large file downloads into smaller parts, making downloading quicker.

Picasa 2
Google’s photo album - Picasa 2, offers a quick and easy way of organising and editing your digital photos.

VCW VicMan’s Photo Editor 7.9
This image editor has a wide selection of features, including over 100 filters and effects plus colour management tools.

Serif PhotoPlus 6
A nice little image-editing suite for your photographs.

Copernic Desktop Search 1.5
Takes less than a second to find the picture you’re after.

XnView
A utility for viewing and converting your image files. You can apply filters, Crop, edit and enhance.

Merge 1.5
Image editing utility that merges two pictures together.

Coffee Cup Free Image Viewer
Easy to use image viewer that allows you to select a group of images to be emailed or uploaded.

Stamp
Renames all your digital photographs to sort them into chronological order.

FxPhoto
Allows you to edit, enhance and organise your images.

Fresh View
A multimedia browser that makes organising images, audio and video films much easier

Every time i pack my camera bag, besides UV filter which already mounted on my lenses, I will make sure CPL and ND 8 filters are packed.

UV filter is a must in order to protect your glasses from scratches but try to avoid those filter do not have HMC because cheap filter might cause ghosting image in some focal length and some lighting situation. Many people think Hoya HMC filter is expensive. In fact, Hoya HMC price is not much different with Hoya standard filter.

Another filter is CPL, it allow you to capture the blue sky, enhance the saturation and cut through the reflection which you can’t achieve through post processing.

This Picture captured with Hoya CPL to enhance the blue sky.

This Picture captured with Hoya CPL to cut through the water reflection at the bottom.

Another filter is ND (Neutral Density) filter, it can help you to slow down the shutter speed during bright day bright in order to achieve special blur effect in day time.

ND8 has been used to achieve the slow shutter in order to get the misty effect of the water current.

For this picture, I have used ND 8 to get 15s to make the water reflection as smooth as mirror.

Hope this short article can help our readers to decide what filter they need to use or buy.

Want to know what is the different between Standard vs HMC filter? Check out here for detailed explanation

Suddenly this question hit into my head. If we know what are the common problems, we really can avoid them
1. Leaving the ISO set to 1600 when you are shooting in bright daylight
2. Arriving at your location and found out you didn’t bring memory card or film
3. Not using tripod for slow shutter speeds and then discovering all your photos are blurred
4. Putting a filter in your jacket pocket, taking the jacket off and then sitting on it
5. Picking up your camera bag when it’s not zipped up and the contents drop out
6. Forget to charge your batteries and only found out after you have leaved home
7. Failing in the river, lake, sea when you are carrying your camera bag which all your gears are in
8. Turning up to photograph an event the day AFTER the event (is it possible? hehe)

I have also created a thread in Lowyat.net & ClubSnap.com, see what other forumers said….

Lowyat.net: http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/518677

ClubSnap.com: http://forum.clubsnap.com/showthread.php?t=310149