First Image Post – Fort Clinch State Park, FL

great pictures, do you use any gradient filters?. and as the title suggestes, we've got to get out west sometime.

Thanks, Stephen. We do need to get out west; the farthest West I have been is South Dakota.

I do not use ND Grad. filters. I had a cokin series ND Grad. filter before my lenses outgrew them (filter size 77mm, yikes). Instead of using ND grads, I am just very very careful with my exposure. I use a sturdy (and heavy, egh) tripod and shoot at ISO100 so I won't run into any problems with noise. I will typically slightly underexpose the foreground and slightly overexpose the sky. I then use photoshop to correct the exposure with dodging and burning. It tends to work well in most situations.

wow, thats cool, thanks

Stephen,

If you auto-bracket your exposures from a tripod, you can blend them in photoshop to achieve the same effect as a ND filter (but with more flexibility, since it doesn’t need a flat horizon). This article on Luminous Landscape describes the technique pretty well.

I submit that it is preferable to use a Grad ND filter in the field for both digital or transparency film rather than rely entirely upon Photoshop or equivalent digital program. Both digital and transparency film require that the highlights not burn out. You will obtain a better final print with the filter with less problem rather than rely entirely upon the digital process.

I am presently using the Cokin P holder with Singh-Ray Grad ND filters. Lee also makes very high quality Grad ND filters that will operate with this holder as well. Additionally, Singh-Ray also makes warm Polarizing filters that fit this holder though they are expensive.

In my case however, I am using a variety of cameras including my 2lb 12oz Toho Shimo FC-45X 4 X 5 Field camera with a variety of lenses and tripod.

Rich