A Very Cool Filter!

After photographing nature scenics for a while, we develop a need for filters that don't exist! Luckily, I'm affiliated with Singh Ray filters and can just call Dr. Bob Singh and request a special filter be manufactured if the need occurs enough. In the following examples, such a filter was created by Dr. Singh from a request from Daryl Benson.

In the following scene, the horizon area is brighter than the sky, where the clouds are. A normal graduated neutral density filter will darken the top of the frame and graduate down to clear. The first example illustrates the use of this filter in this specific situation. As you can see, the foreground is bright, but the sky is very dark to the point of making the clouds too dark.

This occurs because the horizon is the brightest part of the image and the sky at the top of the frame is already a bit dark. What we need is a filter that is graduated up from the horizon where it's the darkest to the clear part at the top of the frame, where it is naturally dark anyway. This filter is called a Reverse Graduated Neutral Density. I find that I'm using this filter more and more in my work.

Here's an example of the use of reverse grad. Notice how the exposure at the horizon is exactly the same on both images. However, the skies are very different. The brighter image is much more appealing, using the reverse grad.

Comments

[Sam Meldrum]

You can just turn a standard graduated neutral density filter upside down and then only insert it to the horizon point - what is the difference between that and this special filter?

When doing this, I sometimes use another lighter neutral density filter the right way up inserted all the way to the bottom so that the break at the horizon is not too harsh.

Alternatively, take several exposures with at different shutter speeds - on a tripod - and use photoshop to merge the images to get the perfect exposure across the image.

By the way - the second image doesn't seem to be displaying properly.

[tony sweet]

Hi Sam and you are right. There are several ways to accomplish the same task. The advantage to using the reverse grad is that it's a soft edge filter and the darkest part is at the center graduating up to being clear at the top. That enables me to have a clear foreground without an edge line, while holding back the brightness at the horizon line. I find it difficult to avoid the hard edge created by the edge of the filter itself in such situations. You can also, as you say, take several exposures and merge in PS. Also, using the two filters, with one inverted may also work. It depends on how one wants to spend his or her time. Personally, I enjoy making the image as completely as possible when taking the picture and moving on. Thanks for your comment and I'm sure that many people will find them useful!

[Sam Meldrum]

Thanks for the clarification. I have also struggled to get rid of the hard edge when turning a normal graduated filter around. I'll have to look out for one of these.