What is a neutral density filter, and how do you use one for long exposures in daylight?
Asked 8/28/2011
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I want to shoot long-exposure photos in daylight to get effects like smooth water or motion blur. I’ve heard this can be done with a neutral density (ND) filter. What exactly is an ND filter, and how does it let you make longer exposures during the day? Also, what type of ND filter is typically used for this?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
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A Neutral Density (ND) filter is a filter that reduces the amount of light captured by the camera evenly across the visible spectrum. As such, it looks grey to black (depending on the filtration power) and does not cast color on the received image (like blue or yellow, e.g., filters will do).
When using a ND filter, there is a need to compensate for the reduction in light by using longer exposures (or higher ISO, but it usually defies the intention of ND filtration). This way, one can capture long-exposure images that are not possible w/o the filter as the camera (set to its lowest ISO and possibly smallest acceptable aperture) is at its slowest speed for a good exposure.
Examples for such situation is when shooting waterfalls in a fairly lit location. Then, the speed for correct exposure is not slow enough to create the required streaming water effect. Using a ND filter, one can reach slower speeds, as if the scene lighting was dimmer.
Note that a uniform ND filter does not change the Dynamic Range of the scene, as the bright areas get darker in the same amount as the dark areas.
Another type of ND filters is the graduate ND filters. These filters usually attenuate the light only at one half of the frame and gradually get clearer on the second half. These filters are used when shooting landscapes, where the sky is much more bright than the scenery and using good exposure for the ground will overexpose the sky. A graduate ND filter lets one reduce the brightness of the sky and get it captured nicely with the ground.
ND filters are marked in multiplies or stops. An 8X ND filter is similar to ND3. Both cut 3 stops of the light. If the camera's meter tells that 1/500 sec is required for the given aperture, then using a ND3 filter will allow an exposure of 1/64 sec with similar outcome.
There are some (expensive) variable ND filters. These are made from two polarizers, where the front element rotates and thus let you set the amount of light being cut (up to virtually no light passing through).
The image below, from Wikipedia, shows the effect of an ND filter:
Originally by user1024. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1024
15y ago
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A neutral density (ND) filter is a gray filter that reduces the amount of light entering the lens without intentionally changing the color of the scene. Because less light reaches the sensor, you must compensate with a longer shutter speed, which is what creates the smooth water or motion-blur effect in daylight.
For this use, you normally want a non-graduated ND filter, which darkens the whole frame evenly. (Graduated ND filters are mainly for balancing a bright sky against a darker foreground.)
How to use it:
- Set your camera to a low ISO.
- Choose the aperture you want.
- Attach the ND filter.
- Lengthen the shutter speed until the exposure is correct.
This is especially useful when, without a filter, the scene is already too bright and even your lowest ISO and smallest practical aperture still won’t allow a slow enough shutter speed.
Some cameras have built-in ND filters; otherwise, they’re typically screw-on or slot-in lens filters. A circular polarizer can also reduce light somewhat, but it is not a substitute for a proper ND filter when you specifically want stronger long-exposure effects.
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