How Graduated Neutral Density Filters Work

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    First off, let me explain to you that I am a self-proclaimed anti-graduated-neutral-density (GND) filters user. I prefer doing 3 exposures or more and then exposure blend in the computer. However, as I was out and about with my latest Zeiss family member, a rather rare (and relatively expensive) Zeiss F-Distagon 2.8/16, the first & only fisheye for the 35mm system Zeiss has ever created, I felt compelled to try this out. I couldn't bring the filter closer to the lens without risking scratches on the filter plate. And yes, this is my reflection on the plate.

    This lens is quite the charmer, it has four built-in filters! Blue, orange, yellow and UV - like they use to use with b/w landscapes in the old days!

    This is a Lee 0.9 Hard Graduated Neutral Density (aka. 3-stop GND) filter held in front of a Zeiss F-Distagon 2.8/16 Rollei>EOS converted lens mounted on a Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera body.

    bjarkihalldors, Derrick Litovitch, Postcards From Here, Jenny-Ré, and 115 other people added this photo to their favorites.

    View 16 more comments

    1. qzyxyawuul 12 months ago | reply

      Just wondering, could you achieve this kind of effect in photoshop by doing an HDR?

    2. Kiddi Kristjans 12 months ago | reply

      Yes and no, the HDR will of course increase the dynamic range in the same way, but HDR usually means 3 or more exposures, and with a moving subject (ie, the ocean) you will have problems. Unless of course your camera has enough dynamic range and if the scene isn't too contrasty, you could do this from one unfiltered RAW file. But for ultimate image quality / fidelity in a single exposure, it's best to do this with filters to get the greatest possible dynamic range to begin with.

    3. Fosmiling 8 months ago | reply

      Interesting for a beginner like me...

    4. Moonlight Lov 8 months ago | reply

      very cooll...!

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