I took this shot during a hike in the woods on Sunday. Although I sought a shady spot along the creek, there was still too much light to allow for a very long exposure, and I don't yet have any filters that could have helped. (I think it's time to invest in one. Anyone have any recommendations?) Anyway, it was a worthwhile attempt and I thought the result deserved to see the light of day. Edited for Black White Wednesday (BWW).
Thanks so much for your great responses to yesterday's "Autumn Squared". I am very appreciative!
As for filters... you would be looking for Neutral Density filters ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_density_filter). These come in a variety of light blocking but the good thing is that they are additive. This way you can add more filters to increase the density although I am sure that there would be a degradation in image quality if you were to use a lot of them at once!
Another option I have come across (although I have never tried it) is to have two polarizing filters on your lens at the same time, hold one filter steady and then rotate the other to get the desired amount of density / darkness. It sounds like a good method for infinite variability of light blocking but it does sound fiddly!
I think this is awesome, and I am learning, too. I was trying some slow shutter speed shots of the river recently, and wasn't pleased with any of them. Now thinking I need filters too........love that I can see the river speed and the rock on top is icing on the cake.
Lovey composition with the rock on top and it works well in b and w. I have jut purchased a Haida 10 stop nd filter. It seemed the best of the cheaper options, cost me £40. I will let you know how I get on with it.
Gorgeous Lisa - love those swirls of water in b&w! A 10-stop ND filter will slow things right down - just started experimenting with mine again, after it sitting gathering dust in my camera bag for more than a year!!! Can be quite pricey depending on what make and size you go for! : )) fav
This is quite mesmerising Lisa, I think you have a great image here. Interesting to read the comments about filters, I don't know anything about them myself. Only one drawback - I'm now singing 'Islands in the Stream"
I know what you mean. There seem to be lots of ways to get more light into the camera, but less... tricky. (Okay, yes, I know, one is only the other seen from the back, but still.)
Neat! I have a variable neutral density fader that lets you control how much of an impact it has on the shutter. It isn't particularly high quality, but I mainly bought it to see if I liked the effect and what it could do for me. Now I am lusting after one of those Lee "Big Stoppers" but the price is keeping me with what I have!
@steampowered@cazla@rennes@archaeofrog Thank you all for your tips and suggestions for a neutral density filter. It seems like a helpful piece of equipment to have in the camera bag for such situations. I have lots to explore and consider but at least now feel like I am off to a good start with it. Thanks again for your responses!
Love the way the B&W has brought out the textures of the water and the rock -looks a bit like someone sitting in the water (or is it the end of the week and my imagination's overwrought!). I bought an ND filter recently but it's only 3 stops and I don't think is going to be enough for summer photography - should be OK for the next few months though and, as Paul says, they are additive.
This is wonderful, Lisa. It's a great composition and you did a really good job with water exposure. That's always so hard for me since I still really don't understand ND filters so haven't bought one yet. If you ever figure those out, let me know! I keep reading about them, but end up more confused than I would have thought possible. I love the tones in this and the water texture.
I did my first long exposures yesterday! I guess it was good it was near end of day (I had no idea what I was doing, but it seemed to work out fine!). This is very nice. I don't have any filters. I have no hood for the lens (apparently everyone has one). I finally got some lens covers. I am going to make my xmas list soon. :)
As for filters... you would be looking for Neutral Density filters ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_density_filter). These come in a variety of light blocking but the good thing is that they are additive. This way you can add more filters to increase the density although I am sure that there would be a degradation in image quality if you were to use a lot of them at once!
Another option I have come across (although I have never tried it) is to have two polarizing filters on your lens at the same time, hold one filter steady and then rotate the other to get the desired amount of density / darkness. It sounds like a good method for infinite variability of light blocking but it does sound fiddly!
Lovely shot.