Thread: Photography tips: Use of Graduated Density Filter

Ever wondered why your landscapes appear so washed out?

The problem with the sky is that it overly lit or dark. This tends to wash out the whole picture.

On another thread I mentioned the 70:30 rule for landscapes where the sky should usually form 70% of the frame. The problem is that when a camera takes such a frame, the natural metering of the camera will be influenced by the skylight more than necessary. Latest digital camera's with multi-segment metering help to reduce the over influence to some extent but not entirely.

Suppose the sky is cloudless blue or cloudy gray, then the dull sky will make the photograph look dull also.

The solution is to trick the camera with a "device" that will block the skylight but not the landscape. This is where graduated density filter comes into the picture.

But first something on filter. A filter is a piece of glass that is attached in front of a lens. People with an SLR are most likely to have a skylight filter screwed on top of the lens which also acts as a lens guard.

A graduated density filter starts with a darker shade at the top and progressively becomes clear at the bottom. It is shown below:

Graduated Density Filter.jpg

Such filters are not directly attachable to the lens. You need to buy an adparter holder for the same as shown below:

Filter Holder and Filter.jpg

As you can see from the images below, the effect is dramatic.

ndgradbefore.jpg ndgradafter.jpg
Before using filter ....................... After using filter

And here are some similar results using a neutral (gray) graduated density filter:
01 Before.jpg ===> 01 After.jpg

02 Before.jpg ===> 02 After.jpg

In fact filters can make a scene dramatic.

Neutral density filters as shown in above pictures (post # 1 and # 2), do not alter the colours of nature - only enhance the contrast. But coloured graduated density filiters can be used to do something totally unusual.

For example, the next pictures (before and after) are taken during bright lit conditions. But the sunset filter makes it look like a sunset.

03 before sunset filter.jpg ===> 03 after sunset filter.jpg

The following picture adds a dramatic fluroscent red to the sky.

04 before fluo red.jpg ===> 04 after fluo red.jpg

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I have a question what happen when we use digital camera ? What can we do when we use them?

Originally Posted by Luke Skywalker

I have a question what happen when we use digital camera ? What can we do when we use them?

I understand the concern and expected a question on that front.

Generally filters and attachments are expensive and hence ideally suited for SLR cameras (film or digital). Also filters are intended for the prosumers group.

Small P&S digital cameras has very small lens and CCD and the effects of filters will not be translated. But some companies have started making filters for small cameras also though not as many.

Nice and informative thread
fwe days ago I was checking the same to add up with my new cam

nice article Kix.

regarding Lukes question, some of these effects you can achieve
in photoshop like dodging and burning the lighter and darker areas.

A circular polarizer filter, polarizes the light and filters out scattered light from clouds. This filter can also add hues (or blues) to the sky as can be seen from pictures below:

(Note that these are scanned photos and hence not a true representation)


Without Circular polarizer


With Circular polarizer

These are my own photographs.

sorry j4k , had some really important issues to be solved for my new collg friend so wasnt online...


i have some peculiar yet interesting question...

if you remember, one of those VMs that i sent, i told you that i am a noob for splitters))
now my question is how can i know that while for ex. i am taking a pic of a mountain(white and grey is my like) i have to use which kind of graduater for it?? especially when i know that i am wanting to contrast the picture with greyishness??? but remember, b-w is not what i am asking for..


I used a splitter for many times. but i saw that it works majorly on colorful surrounds,,.. is that posible to highlight the greyishness??

second question is lil stupid... if a low iso camera is used how will i be able to make the filter splitter graduate according to it ?:blushing:

What do you mean by "Splitters"? Do you mean filters?

For snowacaped mountains, Nuetral Density (ND) graduated filters are the best. Actually ND filters are best when you do not wish to "disturb" the colour balance.

Neutral density does not bring or render a gray color to the photo. It simply blocks light from that part of frame.

When I used the word "disturb", it can mean in a positive way also. For example, using the Orange Graduated density filter (Sunset filter), you could make the scenery appear like sunset even when it is not.

A circular polarizer eliminates the scattered and polarized light from the clouds and gives the sky a blue hue as can be seen in post # 9. The photos of tower of London were taken on the same day but with different angles.

yes i use splitter word for it(maybe i am wrong) cause it diverges the bands of color(though maybe i am wrong again :noob

use of filters is justified in terrains, moutains, big buildings..
but will it be productible when considering a pic of for ex. distance 5 feet?? like a flower or a bouque ??

Originally Posted by mickey

yes i use splitter word for it(maybe i am wrong) cause it diverges the bands of color(though maybe i am wrong again :noob

use of filters is justified in terrains, moutains, big buildings..
but will it be productible when considering a pic of for ex. distance 5 feet?? like a flower or a bouque ??

You can use filter anywhere, even in macro photography.

A filter will reduce the light by a certain amount. For example ND/4 will reduce the light by 2 f/stops. So if you use a film with low ISO, then you will need to expose the picture more (decrease shutter speed) if a filter is added. On the program mode, the camera's multi-segment or spot metering will automatically take care of that.

Originally Posted by just4kix

You can use filter anywhere, even in macro photography.

A filter will reduce the light by a certain amount. For example ND/4 will reduce the light by 2 f/stops. So if you use a film with low ISO, then you will need to expose the picture more (decrease shutter speed) if a filter is added. On the program mode, the camera's multi-segment or spot metering will automatically take care of that.

that may make it blur ??what do you think??

The lowest ASA on film is 50 and that too is available on Fuji Velvia only. Fuji Velvia is a slide film. The common ISO and the hotest selling is ASA 200 (abroad) and ASA 100 (in India). You should be safe with these filters unless there is extremely poor light.

As far as digital camera is concerned, the ASA/ISO is not much consequential. You need good light.

If good light is not available, use fill flash.

yess.. digi cams are not worthy on filters...

Ahem! D-SLRs and filters go very well together.

For P&S digital cameras, there is no option anyway.

oK take a look on this pic...(pls dont bash me for centre@horizon) i am just learning..

in this pic i have located the moisturous enviornment around the hills and trees(if you may see the inside that whitish line)

its a kodak and with filters as you may see...

so telll me how can i achieve more vibrancy in this...??
it was yes a ND filter.. and flash mode was on..

In my camera there are color filter option but you don't have to do anything i.e. add a filter or thing like that. Is that same thing ?

PS: don't know anything about photography. Only achievement of mine is developing own pin hole camera(6th stan.) which most student do in 6th standard.

oK take a look on this pic...(pls dont bash me for centre@horizon) i am just learning..

in this pic i have located the glow of fog/dew and trees(if you may see the inside that whitish line)



its a kodak and with filters as you may see...

so telll me how can i achieve more vibrancy in this...??
it was yes a ND filter.. and flash mode was on..

Originally Posted by Luke Skywalker

In my camera there are color filter option but you don't have to do anything i.e. add a filter or thing like that. Is that same thing ?

PS: don't know anything about photography. Only achievement of mine is developing own pine hole camera(6th stan.) which most student do in 6th standard.

every camera is good...

i think you are a good photographer, thats why you saw that option... but thats a digital form, i think it gives some special colorish shade to the pic, while we are talking about multi color

btw i am glad to have you in this forum. kindly post some of yours too..

Originally Posted by mickey

oKso telll me how can i achieve more vibrancy in this...??
it was yes a ND filter.. and flash mode was on..

why is a flash needed?

-F

Originally Posted by Punch Farce

why is a flash needed?

-F

generally i take with flash on...i dont know why

maybe because i want to bring some warm tone to the pics...

i dont like hollow colored pics.. some vibrancy is must,, though i know i miss somethings...

also i do practise a lot with shutter speeds..

Flash fill works in many cases to highlight dimly lit or backlit subjects. But the photograph of the Himalayas posted above, it will not make much difference (unless there is a foreground).

In the photograph posted, you can clearly see that there is a lot of haze in the sky and in front of the mountains. The moutains are appearing very blueish. A circular polarizer is the best filter for such a situation. It gets rid of the haze.

Originally Posted by just4kix

Flash fill works in many cases to highlight dimly lit or backlit subjects. But the photograph of the Himalayas posted above, it will not make much difference (unless there is a foreground).

In the photograph posted, you can clearly see that there is a lot of haze in the sky and in front of the mountains. The moutains are appearing very blueish. A circular polarizer is the best filter for such a situation. It gets rid of the haze.

actually while using the flash mode on, i usually experiment with the shutter speeds.. i make them nearly 1/8th of speed.. is it right practise? pls lighten..