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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Would a N.D. Filter help???
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03/05/2010 09:27:35 PM · #1
Well, this was the shot I was going to enter into the Parallel Lines challenge



After bombing the Free Study I lost my Nerve..LOL... anyway, I didn't enter it because the sky is really blown out and I was wondering if a Neutral Density filter would help here... I have been trying to get light streaks at sunset, but the sky always gets blown out by the long exposure... So... Any suggestions??? I think a N.D. may do the trick, but I was just curious if any of you guys have any other suggestions...
03/05/2010 09:35:37 PM · #2
Neutral density filter would have to be a split filter to be of any help at all, obviously. Your best bet is a tripod and 2 (or more) exposures, one or two for the sky and one for everything else, combined in post, which is pretty easy.

R.
03/05/2010 09:44:37 PM · #3
Dont point or add the sun in your shot. Compose the shot so it is just out of the frame.
Just a thought.
03/05/2010 10:45:54 PM · #4
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Neutral density filter would have to be a split filter to be of any help at all, obviously. Your best bet is a tripod and 2 (or more) exposures, one or two for the sky and one for everything else, combined in post, which is pretty easy.

R.


Of course Parallel lines is in basic. But to get the shot? Yeah, combining the two exposures in post would be easier and cheaper than a neutral grad filter. A neutral grad filter would need to be pretty heavy to hold back that bright sky. (like 2 stops or more)

Just out of curiousity, has anyone tried a straight Cokin ND filter and used it like a hard edge grad filter?

Message edited by author 2010-03-05 22:59:04.
03/06/2010 03:19:02 AM · #5
I've used a full ND filter as a hard edge grad. The transition point needs to be pretty dark to hide the edge of the filter.
03/06/2010 09:09:09 AM · #6
Thanks guys, Bear's idea is great, but won't work in basic... It's still good to know though... Are there any other filters that may do the trick?
03/06/2010 10:16:58 AM · #7
Originally posted by Sirashley:

Thanks guys, Bear's idea is great, but won't work in basic... It's still good to know though... Are there any other filters that may do the trick?


Well, there's a really cheap & dirty way of doing it...
Set up your camera on a tripod, set your exposure, and look through the viewfinder. While looking through the viewfinder, put a black card in front of the lens, just covering the sky area. Start the exposure, wiggle the card vertically to blur the edge, and partway through the exposure remove the card entirely. If you remove the card halfway through, it will be like a 1-stop change, so you might have to experiment with removing it later if you need greater reduction in light.
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