Using filters/long exposures for sunsets

[Dman]

Are filters absolutely necessary to get those really nice long exposures with nice red skies, such as this one, or will a standard Sigma 10-20 do the trick on it's own with the enhancements being made in PS after the event with their grad filter effects?

I'm planning ahead for the summer, I've never used filters and don't get a chance to do landscapes where I live but am going to Malta where I hope to experiment. However, it could be a costly experiment if I spend £100+ on filters/holders but on the other hand I don't want to be left with anything looking too plain.

Any landscape shooters out there who can give some guidance?

Cheers

 

[existent]

for long exposures, unless you wait way after sunset, you most likely will need some filters to give you the long shutter speeds you need.

but I think you especially need ND grads for sunset/sunrise shots because usually the sky will be much brighter than the ground, and it is very difficult/impossible to expose both correctly at the same time (unless you go HDR way).

 

[Les McLean]

Yes, a set of grads is what you need to balance the light, the image you linked to -grads were used on that image.

 

[The Matt]

Really it depends on the lighting. You can get some lovely light long after sunset, though it may be so dark you'd think it'd be rubbish, but open the shutter long enough and it can bring them out beautifully. Forgive the shameless plug to my photos but here's one taken
in near total darkness, just a little colour vosible on the horizon:

iso100 f8 250 seconds. No exposure merging, no filters.

It's very much depedant on the weather conditions, so you might want some NDs to make sure you get a decently long shutter speed when the light is right.

You can sort the brighness of the sky by exposure merging if you're not wanting to spend on filters. I daresay the colour of the sky isn't a filter effect. The best way to get a nice red sky is unfortunately, waiting for a nice red sky.

 

[jimyjoe]

i was in very much the same boat as you a couple of months ago while i was planning for my trip away, currently in New Zealand. I wanted to try my hand at land scape. I dont have any NDs or ND grad filters just a CPL which i dont really bother with and i have been able to get some really nice sun rise sun set photos. The one thing i wish i had brought with me *** was a proper tri pod all iv got is my gorila pod which is good it just means im a bit limited on angles.

If your on a budget and worried about splashing money of filters if you dont think you will use them you could always just pick up some cheap ones from 7dayshop to give you a rough idea of what you can achieve.

Im heading to Thailand in a couple of months so hopefully il be able to pick up some gear while im out there for cheap. One can only hope.

Nice shot by the way Matt.

Joe

 

[mrtoad]

this last one looks more natural
just wait till the sun sets....and if you are lucky you will get a canopy flare in the clouds
there is nothing so natural as nature