• Photos

  • Level

  • Score

BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Photography Question 

Sharon Day 		 

split neutral density question


 
 
Will a split ND filter work on a scene such as this where the horizon is so uneven? I've tried shooting several exposure where I would have one exposure for the sky and one for the foreground, but with trees in the image I find these types of images difficult to combine in PS. Thanks!


To love this question, log in above
November 08, 2005

 

Sharon Day 		 
 
 
Well, something happened to the image. I'll try again.


To love this comment, log in above
November 08, 2005

 

Sharon Day 		  Anyone???


To love this comment, log in above
November 09, 2005

 
- Bob Cournoyer

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Bob Cournoyer
Bob Cournoyer's Gallery
  Don't know, don't own one. Maybe if you tilted it sideways? Or a circular polarizer?
Just keeping you at the top....:-)
Bob


To love this comment, log in above
November 09, 2005

 

Kerry L. Walker 		  Don't see how it could possibly work.


To love this comment, log in above
November 09, 2005

 

Sharon Day 		  Thanks Bob & Kerry! I just wondered how to get a sky darker under these conditions. I find myself shooting on days like this a lot.


To love this comment, log in above
November 09, 2005

 

Joe Jarosz 		  Hi Sharon, if you use a Lee Filter System for example, the filter is essentially a square or rectangle which fits into an adaptor that connects to the front of your lens. The filter slides into the adaptor (so you can move it up and down to match the horizon line), and the adaptor rotates, so you should be able to slide and rotate the filter to match the angle line where the rocks meet the sky.

They aren't cheap, but they work great.

Joe


To love this comment, log in above
November 09, 2005

 

Joe Jarosz 		  Keep in mind though that its a straight line, so there will be a little overlap onto the rocks..


To love this comment, log in above
November 09, 2005

 

Sharon Day 		  Thanks Joe! I have a split ND for my Cokin, but didn't use it thinking it probably wouldn't work with something that uneven. Next time I'll try that.


To love this comment, log in above
November 09, 2005

 

Bob Cammarata 		 
 
  Blackwater Falls
Blackwater Falls
Overcast day, (metered off the brightest part of the rapids and opened 1/2 stop over that reading.)

Bob Cammarata

  
 
In this scenario,...lacking a straight horizon of highlight vs. foreground or shadow, your best bet would be to compose your shot for only the foreground,...not both.

As a general rule of thumb, when you are metering the darker (important) parts of a scene such as this one, tilt your camera angle skyward to get a reading off the sky.
If you see more than 1/2 stop difference with a digital camera (or with slide film), make an effort to eliminate the sky completely from the frame,...unless the horizon is level and as you mentioned, there are no important components jutting up into the bright portion of the frame.
(In this case, a split ND would certainly help.)

In the attached example, I encountered a similar scenario and tilted the camera angle down a little to eliminate the sky and removed the risk of it being washed out and over-exposed.


To love this comment, log in above
November 09, 2005

 
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here

Report this Thread