Which neutral density filter to choose?

weepete · Feb 4, 2015

You could, but one reason an GND filter is also used is to reduce the dynamic range to enable your camera to capture a more even exposure. So as long as the dynamic range is within your cameras limits it will be possible, blow out the shadows and the highlights and you'll never get them back. It also depends on your pp skills and if your camera has low noise in shadows.

You can always use multiple exposures and blend them in post too however I think that a better result is more easily obtained with the use of filters.

Did you know you can create the effect of a reverse GND filter using two GND filters?

I found this useful: Reverse ND Grads Customer Feedback for LEE Filters

TCampbell · Feb 4, 2015

^^ This

It's really about the dynamic range. Landscapes tend to be the most demanding when it comes to dynamic range (which is why landscape photographers always suggest in the RAW vs. JPEG debate... this is one area where you should really just shoot RAW even if you're normally a JPEG person.)

Lee Filters do make something called the "Coral Stripe" filter (and the "Pale Coral Stripe" variant) which is a clear filter with a tinted "orange" band only through the middle of the filter (top and bottom are both clear). You could certainly use this filter combined with either a coral grad or neutral grad to create a "reverse grad". Every time I find an image example made with the coral stripe, it's always a sunset photo. You can find numerous examples on the inter-webs.

The dynamic range of a camera -- even one thought to have very good dynamic range -- won't compete with what you can achieve using a grad ND filter. A single grad ND filter can improve dynamic range by as much as 3 full stops... but you can stack them.

This is probably a pretty good tutorial video by Lee Filters to help you realize what the filters do and how they effect landscape photography.