C&C My first attempts with a Graduated ND Filter

First full day in Yellowstone, and made my first attempts the Graduated ND Filters. For this I used a B+W Circular Polarizer and a 2 stop soft 4x6 Singh-Ray Graduated ND filter.


My first thought is that it is to dark when shown small. Full screen it doesn't look as dark. I added +2 to contrast in DPP and did nothing else. This is Yellowstone Lake on the North Shore.



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<tbody>
<tr class="lookatme"]
<th>Camera</th>
<td>[url="http://www.flickr.com/cameras/canon/eos_5d_mark_ii/]Canon EOS 5D Mark II[/url]</td>
</tr>
<tr class="lookatme"]
<th>Exposure</th>
<td>0.006 sec (1/160)</td>
</tr>
<tr class="lookatme"]
<th>Aperture</th>
<td>f/10.0</td>
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<tr class="lookatme"]
<th>Focal Length</th>
<td>24 mm</td>
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<th>ISO Speed</th>
<td>


400
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[View:http://community.the-digital-picture...neric/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/...0eb32505_z.jpg]

Nice one, indeed a bit dark, but it has something mysterious, maybe because of the darkness. Furthermore, the composition, with the dead tree in the foreground works pretty well

Rick, I really like this shot. I agree, it might be just a bit dark, but not much (~1/3?). Love the composition.

+1. Great composition. It would be nice to see it alongside a brighter version for comparison.

Nice shot , Rick.


A couple of questions to you or other members..


Where did you manage to get a holder for the 4x6 Singh Ray filter?


The dark semi-cicle at the top of the image, is caused by what?


Thanks


Steve

nice shot indeed. i often use a hard edge GND when horizons like this are so well defined (flat fields, large bodies of water), but the soft filter did the job in holding back the sky.


Steve, the LEE filter kit will hold the 4 x 6 inch Singh Rays.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Steve U

A couple of questions to you or other members..


The dark semi-cicle at the top of the image, is caused by what?

---

Steve,


That dark blue in the upper center has to do with a polarizing filter on a wide angle lens (24mm in this case, on a FF body).


Sometimes the CPL can't polarize the light evenly across a wide sky, which makes the color discrepancy more noticeable.


Beautiful shot Rick!





Rich

Thanks erno, my luck, "temporarily unavailable".

Steve


I was unable to find a filter holder before the trip, Lee or Cokin both would hold it. I hand held the 4x6 which honestly seems like it might be easier than messing with a holder. I am not sure what dark semi circle you mean? The pattern of the clouds? The polarizer might have a hand in this as well.


erno james


Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I stopped buying filters with the soft and thought I would try them first. I am sure I will be getting more variety soon.


Pieter, Brant and thekingb


The pics below in order are, The same pic lightened up by 1/3 stop. Second is same scene a few seconds earlier. Same shutter speed I had the graduated filter in a different position to let in more light.





[View:http://community.the-digital-picture...neric/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/...7692c7ab_z.jpg]





[View:http://community.the-digital-picture...neric/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/...782faa02_z.jpg]





One other note, there is a bird way off in the background on the original pic. I am going to clone it out when I get home. I keep thinking I had a dirty sensor when I look at it.





Thanks


Rick

@Rich, good to know, thanks.

Steve,


Another interesting point is that if you look on the lake you can also see where the CPL isn't capable of polarizing such a large body of water.


The CPL seems to have the same opposite "mirror image" effect as the sky on the water. The darker portion of the sky matches up with the darker portions of the lake. I think the demarcation of the clouds is also exacerbating this. You can see through the water where it was polarized and you will see reflections where it is not.


Rick, please note that this is not a critique of your photo, however it is a mere limitation of CPL's. So, in other words this is no reflection on you! (pun intended) [;)]


Rich

@Rich, oh stop it. I do see what you mean.


@Rick, it is a great shot of a spectacular scene. I went to a couple of retail shops after running into a dead end with the Cokin ZPro holder online. One said,"Yes we can order it for you," the other said, "Cokin are in receivership and we haven

...interesting that the CPL is limited regarding the Lake as well. But I think it adds to the shot.