Help with nd filters, HDR and landscapes

landerson07

landerson07

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Afternoon all, whilst I enjoy doing portraits I'm fancying having a go at some landscapes but have a few questions to help get me started.

I like the HDR look when done right so am going to venture down this route. With this in mind I don't think I need to purchase any gnd filters yet but I'm a little confused about whether I need nd filters?

I was thinking about buying a polarizer, 3 or 4 stop nd filter and possibly a 10 stop?

I've read a load of websites and keep hovering over the buy button but then back out lol.

Reading Trey Ratcliff's webpage I'm not sure if I even need them? I'll mostly be aiming for sunrise/sunset if that helps and would like to try some lakes and waterfalls etc.

So after all that I guess I'm asking if I want to do HDR do I need filters? and of so, without breaking the bank what should I be looking at buying?

Cheers
Lee
 
Hi, I would suggest for land/seascapes a polarizer is a must and the ND filter/s do have there place, especially when water is involved. Do you need the 10 stop IMO for HDR it would get you nothing extra however for just one exposure shot it has it's place.
Also remember that when it comes to filters like most things in life "You only get what you pay for" so get the best Polarizer you can afford.
Now this IJMO but Mr Ratcliffe tends to go a little to bit OOT and to me his images are not what I would call realistic there are many other sites out there that delv into HDR along with many good books.
Have a look at http://www.everydayhdr.com/ or http://photocamel.com/forum/hdr-photography/
Lots of info.
Russ
 
Thanks mate, I'll have a read of them sites. So do you think I should just aim for a polarizer for now and add the nd filters later if I find I need them?

If this is the case would you recommend a screw on polarizer or one that fits in a cokin holder?
 
landerson07 said:
Thanks mate, I'll have a read of them sites. So do you think I should just aim for a polarizer for now and add the nd filters later if I find I need them?

If this is the case would you recommend a screw on polarizer or one that fits in a cokin holder?
Click to expand...

Hi, I use the screw in polarizer as I also use the LEE system and to be honest cannot afford the LEE at this time.
I am not that well acquainted with the Cokin system so someone else may give advice there.
I would buy one slot in ND filter and again I have the LEE 0.6 that I find gives enough to give that milky effect on water.
I prefer the slot in as it does save a lot of messing around screwing on and off filters.
Again IMO buy the best Polarizer you can afford and make that your first purchase in filters.
Russ
 
I'd agree with Russ, the polarizer is a must. I held out Dar too long before getting one but now I've got one, I wonder what I was doing before I had it.

As for nd filters and nd grads, I don't use the grads much as I find I get a better effect by taking two shots (one for sky and one for foreground) and blending in elements after.

Solid nd filters are different, I think a 3 stop or similar would be good for getting a bit of movement in water without it being too much. I have a 10 stop and it's good for some situations but certainly not all, especially if you will be hdr-ing your shots later.

I hope that helps you out, I'm going to check out those hdr sites now.
 
I think I'm going to purchase a 3 or 4 stop nd filter and a circular polarizer. Will a standard filter holder be OK with a 17-70 lens on the d7100?

I've had a quick look at the websites and they seem very helpful thank you.
 
landerson07 said:
I think I'm going to purchase a 3 or 4 stop nd filter and a circular polarizer. Will a standard filter holder be OK with a 17-70 lens on the d7100?

I've had a quick look at the websites and they seem very helpful thank you.
Click to expand...

Hi, Better to get a wide angle adapter if they do one to hold the actual filter holder on the square system, if you look around this and other sites you will see it mentioned that the square system either LEE or Cokin are very versatile as you buy one holder and different size adapter rings for each lens you own saves a lot of money in the long run buying separate circular filters of varying sizes.
 
Personally i think the best thing to do is to try taking some HDR images without any filters or without buying any more equipment, and take the time to process them to your liking. Vey good images HDR's can be taken without any filters, with a basic DSLR and kit lens. Try to make the best photograph you can with the equipment you already have and if you feel you're images would be better with filters, then purchase them.

Here's an example of a HDR landscape taken on a nikon D80 (about 7 years old now) and an 18-70 kit lens with no polariser or ND grads attached. Sometimes you just need to practice and know the equipment you already have

 
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I agree with the idea of trying the HDR route first.

Photomatix ( http://www.hdrsoft.com/ ), which is a very easy to use, can be downloaded as a trial version. It does put a watermark on the images but the trial never expires, so you can have as much time as you like to play with it.

If you don't like the effect, and it is very easy to go over the top, you have lost nothing.

Dave
 
Yeah I've downloaded a few programs to have a go and see which one I prefer.

Having read a few tutorials photomatix seems to be the preferred option?

Just need it to stop raining so I can get out and give it a go
 
Had some money come through from topcashback so I've ordered a wide angle filter holder, circular polarizer, nd 1.2 and a 72mm adapter all from srb griturn.

Excellent communication and service so far. I mailed them about a discount and they have me a 10% Facebook new customer discount :-)
 
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