Bought a ND400x - Midday Long exposure lake photo
- Thread starter Awhat
- Start date
Are you using a neutral density filter? I took a photo without an ND and it was completely white.
I was was able to get 30 seconds exposure
The photo looks to be overexposed. Did you calculate what shutter speed to use, or did you aim for 30 seconds because that is what you wanted to use?
The filter you used is a 9-stop ND filter, and you say you used a shutter speed of 30 seconds. Working backwards, and if I am figuring this out correctly, your starting shutter speed before placing the the filter on the camera would have been 1/15" IF the exposure was determined correctly. What is the EXIF data from the photo? I'm guessing this was taken during the daytime...yes? If so, the starting shutter speed most likely was faster than 1/15" and that would indicate you overexposed.
To use an ND filter, you need to determine the actual shutter speed WITHOUT the filter first. Then you need to calculate the exposure to compensate for the 9-stops of light loss difference. There are smart phone apps for that. You should be able to darken this photo using some type of post processing software.
Please understand I am not being critical of what you did, Awhat. I just want you to understand how to use an ND filter correctly. Even though it is overexposed, I still give you an A+ for effort.
Please let us know the EXIF data. In the properties section of the image, you will find the aperture, ISO, and shutter speed used. Plus the approximate time of day the photo was taken would help, too.
The filter you used is a 9-stop ND filter, and you say you used a shutter speed of 30 seconds. Working backwards, and if I am figuring this out correctly, your starting shutter speed before placing the the filter on the camera would have been 1/15" IF the exposure was determined correctly. What is the EXIF data from the photo? I'm guessing this was taken during the daytime...yes? If so, the starting shutter speed most likely was faster than 1/15" and that would indicate you overexposed.
To use an ND filter, you need to determine the actual shutter speed WITHOUT the filter first. Then you need to calculate the exposure to compensate for the 9-stops of light loss difference. There are smart phone apps for that. You should be able to darken this photo using some type of post processing software.
Please understand I am not being critical of what you did, Awhat. I just want you to understand how to use an ND filter correctly. Even though it is overexposed, I still give you an A+ for effort.
Please let us know the EXIF data. In the properties section of the image, you will find the aperture, ISO, and shutter speed used. Plus the approximate time of day the photo was taken would help, too.
Since you ask for our thoughts, I'd say it would be nice to be able to see the exif (iso, shutter speed, aperture, camera model, lens) information.
As far as the image itself, I would have preferred not to have the boat in the composition. I think my eyes keep going back and forth from the shore to the boat and it removes the quiet calm that the image could have brought if the boat wasn't part of the image. But if this was your first trial with long exposure, I'd say good shot.
As far as the image itself, I would have preferred not to have the boat in the composition. I think my eyes keep going back and forth from the shore to the boat and it removes the quiet calm that the image could have brought if the boat wasn't part of the image. But if this was your first trial with long exposure, I'd say good shot.
im just on my phone at the moment but I'll post up the exif data when I am on my computer next.
Okay ay fair enough, I have another image without the boat but it looked a little "unrealistic " due to the blueness of the water so I kept it in.
yeah ah it's my first shot, thanks!
The photo looks to be overexposed. Did you calculate what shutter speed to use, or did you aim for 30 seconds because that is what you wanted to use?
The filter you used is a 9-stop ND filter, and you say you used a shutter speed of 30 seconds. Working backwards, and if I am figuring this out correctly, your starting shutter speed before placing the the filter on the camera would have been 1/15" IF the exposure was determined correctly. What is the EXIF data from the photo? I'm guessing this was taken during the daytime...yes? If so, the starting shutter speed most likely was faster than 1/15" and that would indicate you overexposed.
To use an ND filter, you need to determine the actual shutter speed WITHOUT the filter first. Then you need to calculate the exposure to compensate for the 9-stops of light loss difference. There are smart phone apps for that. You should be able to darken this photo using some type of post processing software.
Please understand I am not being critical of what you did, Awhat. I just want you to understand how to use an ND filter correctly. Even though it is overexposed, I still give you an A+ for effort.
Please let us know the EXIF data. In the properties section of the image, you will find the aperture, ISO, and shutter speed used. Plus the approximate time of day the photo was taken would help, too.
I was kind of going for the overexposed / really bright look to highlight the colours of the water / the overall image. Yeah I aimed for 30 and just used what wasn't too underexposed / really really overexposed.
if I was going for the "silky " / soft wster look should I have still started with determining the shutter speed without the ND filter or just start with whatever shutter speed I was going for?
Ill grab the exif data when I go on my PC tomorrow, and the image was taken around 1:30 PM
cheers!
You definitely want to determine what the shutter speed is BEFORE you mount the filter. If you have a chance, please consider making a copy of this chart and keep it in your bag. The chart comes from this link: http://jimdoty.com/learn/exp101/exp_big3/110519_shutter_speeds_j6.jpg
You want to use this like a number line. Find the starting shutter speed on this chart that the camera meters when the filter is NOT being used. Then count 9 places and plug in the length of time for the shutter speed when the filter is mounted. If you specifically want a 30 second exposure, the starting shutter speed needs to be 1/15". Use the lowest ISO possible. If the starting shutter speed isn't 1/15" then you need to figure out what the correct shutter speed should be based on this chart. Otherwise you will either underexpose or overexposure your images.
If your starting shutter speed is 1/1000", then when the filter is mounted, the shutter speed should be 1/2".
You want to use this like a number line. Find the starting shutter speed on this chart that the camera meters when the filter is NOT being used. Then count 9 places and plug in the length of time for the shutter speed when the filter is mounted. If you specifically want a 30 second exposure, the starting shutter speed needs to be 1/15". Use the lowest ISO possible. If the starting shutter speed isn't 1/15" then you need to figure out what the correct shutter speed should be based on this chart. Otherwise you will either underexpose or overexposure your images.
If your starting shutter speed is 1/1000", then when the filter is mounted, the shutter speed should be 1/2".
Vixen
Senior Member
Yeah
Like I said with ND400, ISO 100, F stop as small as I can get it, so F22 - f36....I still CANNOT get a 30sec exp at midday (and be correctly exposed). Maybe the Aussie sun is much, much, harsher & brighter When I got my B+W 10-stop ND, I did a bit of testing and found it was closer to 10-1/3. So I just made my own custom little chart for converting 10-1/3 stops. I keep a .PDF of it on my phone for use in the field.
Alright cool thanks for the explanation, makes sense.
Alright cool, I think its a bit to personal preference. I made the photo a little darker using post processing but I didn't find it as appealing as the really bright sky. But I appreciate your opinion.
Yeah that would definitely have been better, I was at a family thing so I took the opportunity haha. Planning on going late afternoon / early morning again soon though.
Cheers
When I got my B+W 10-stop ND, I did a bit of testing and found it was closer to 10-1/3. So I just made my own custom little chart for converting 10-1/3 stops. I keep a .PDF of it on my phone for use in the field.
Awesome cheers for sharing!