ND & NDGRAD Filters, what you use and pics

[tonye]

Just getting into LONG long exposure with my new to me D5200, game changer for me as it has live view on a pull out and tilt screen, perfect for those low down wide shots. Got a Cokin set with adapter rings so can us on all my glass, also a couple of 10 stop screw ons.

Would love to see some of your work and advice on the subject.

Regards Tony

 

[Clovishound]

I don't do a lot of long exposure shots, but it is something that is a good tool from time to time. The best advice I could give is to explore areas/situations in your area that lend themselves to long exposure shots and take lots of images. Look at them critically to see where improvements can be made. Above all enjoy yourself. If it's not fun, you probably won't improve much, if at all.

 

[BF Hammer]

I am going to add a filter organizer to a future Amazon purchase. This month I was without ND filters (as is normal for me) and I really discovered I wanted to slow down shutter for some wind turbines. I have no organization, carry the filters in original packaging, so this discourages me from making space in my backpack case.

I may have to invest in larger thread size ND filters. I bought mine 12 or 13 years ago when I had a lot of 52mm filter thread lenses. Today they are larger. I have a step-up ring to adapt to 62mm, and that works on some lenses, others will vignette.

Oddly I bought a 77mm variable ND and circular polarizer combo filter in 2019, and I don't believe I ever really used it yet. I have misplaced it a couple of times so it was missing for like 2 years of that time. Sure wish I had it in the bag a week ago.

This is the wind turbine scene I was working at. Handheld at 1/8s and I needed to be about 1/2s on a tripod to get the windmill motion I wanted. I was badly overexposed.

This is the next photo in series, 1/200s with better exposure. But no motion, so not as dynamic.

 

[tonye]

I don't do a lot of long exposure shots, but it is something that is a good tool from time to time. The best advice I could give is to explore areas/situations in your area that lend themselves to long exposure shots and take lots of images. Look at them critically to see where improvements can be made. Above all enjoy yourself. If it's not fun, you probably won't improve much, if at all.

View attachment 421509View attachment 421510

Beautiful b & w

 

[hark]

Although I have a few different ND filters, including one that is a variable ND filter, the only one at hand when I took these was a 10-stop. So I chose to use it anyway. However, I do want to find my 3-stop, 6-stop, and variable ND filters.

The nice thing with most screw on filters is if you match the ND filter size to the lens' front filter size, you can use a lens hood. But when I purchased a Tiffen variable ND filter (2 to 8 stop variable), the diameter of the filter was a little too wide for me to put on the lens hood even though it was the correct size filter. But it is convenient being able to quickly dial in anywhere from 2 stops to 8 stops.

I have some Cokin filters that I haven't used in ages, but I'm pretty sure there is an optional lens hood available. If you don't have one, you might want to consider getting it. It will help prevent light from going into the camera body's sensor from the sides, top, and from below (reflections from water). If I'm in a situation where my lens hood won't fit, then I use my free hand to shade the lens from direct sunlight.

 

[tonye]

Great shots hark. I will look into the hood for my cokin set.