The search for cataclysmic variables (CVs) has been historically characterised by serendipity. Even large photometric or spectroscopic surveys could not count on specific methods to reliably identify CVs from other astrophysical sources.
In this contribution, we explore three large photometric surveys carried out at the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre (OAJ). The use of narrow-band filters and, in one case, the use of repeated observations, provide these projects with unprecedented potential for CV-related studies.