neutral density (ND) filter

[jeff-in]

Hi All,
I was trying to take photos for Lesson 3 and the way the sunlight was at the track where I was shooting the fastest shutter speed I could accomplish without bad over exposure was a 1/125 which would not allow the background blur that I needed to accomplish the blur effect of the background. I had a UV filter on the camera but even that didnt help.

I was looking at some other sites at work and saw that I need to get down to around a 1/60 or faster to get the effect I need but the sunlight would not allow it. One suggestion that I saw showed to use a neutral density (ND) filter which would limit the light getting in. Do you feel that a neutral density (ND) filter would have helped me to get my shutter faster since it is essentially sunglasses for the camera and 2) will it give the photos a dark look to them?

Thanks

[coffee]

Why not use Time Value or shutter priority, set shutter to 1/60 or slower, and the camera will adjust the aperture for you.

[jeff-in]

Why not use Time Value or shutter priority, set shutter to 1/60 or slower, and the camera will adjust the aperture for you.


Coffee,
I was using shutter priority which is what was specified for Lesson 3. I tried to get lower then a 1/125 and because the sun was so bright that day on either side of the track where I was at, which I was on both sides and if I went lower then 1/125 the camera over-exposed really bad so I could not get to low enough of a setting to properly shoot for lesson 3 panning. I have 1 shot that was at 1/100 and the whole background came out solid white from over-exposure.

[coffee]

Of course sorry about that Jeff. Ok well an ND should work for what you want to do. I don't know if it was a horse track of car track you were at, but if you can get closer to the subject so your camera pans faster, you can use a higher shutter and still get the affect. The slower the subject, the slower the shutter you will need. But you can use a faster shutter if your camera pans faster.

Was your ISO set the the lowest possible setting?

[jeff-in]

Of course sorry about that Jeff. Ok well an ND should work for what you want to do. I don't know if it was a horse track of car track you were at, but if you can get closer to the subject so your camera pans faster, you can use a higher shutter and still get the affect. The slower the subject, the slower the shutter you will need. But you can use a faster shutter if your camera pans faster.

Coffee,
I was actually at an abandoned airport where they hold SCCA auto races. Where I was standing at on the track was maybe 15-25 feet from the cars as they went racing by standing in a ditch next to a corn field. Take a look at the photos that I posted in the lesson 3 thread and you will be able to see just how close I was. That thread is here http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/showthread.php?t=990&page=8

For the most part I was set at 1/125 when I was on the 1 side of the track and 1/1600 when I was on the back side of the track going for the second half of the panning session. Either side of the track over exposed really bad. UV filter did not help out at all. On the ND Filter when they show 0.3 or 0.6 what does that refer to and which would be better to use to help get me to a faster speed so I can accomplish the assignment?

[coffee]

Here is a link that explains the numbers you refered to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_density_filter

[jeff-in]

Here is a link that explains the numbers you refered to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_density_filter

Thats funny, I was actually just reading that page as you sent this link.

[coffee]

I was looking at your photos in the link above. The smallest aperture listed is 8.0. You have plenty of room to play with here Jeff without an ND.

So if this is the panning assignment, and you aren't requiered to use shutter priority, I can't remember, then I would use aperture priority. Keep raising the aperture, larger numbers=smaller ap, till the camera chooses 1/60 shutter speed or less. Then take your pan shot. Most DSLR can get to f/22 or smaller.

[jeff-in]

Joseph,
Unfortunately with the Canon S5 8.0 Av is the most I can go. I wish I did have more numbers to play with but I dont have an SLR The S5 is a point and shoot that looks more like an SLR and I can add filters and other lenses with a 58MM bayonet adaptor tube.

[coffee]

I see sure. Ok well then you are left to using a ND, or taking this shot on a cloudy day. Or better yet at night under lights perhaps. That would be very cool. A night panning shot. :-) Or choosing a different subject under lower lighting conditions.

[jeff-in]

ok now that we have agreement established, who is a good manufacture of ND filters? I know dad used to use cokin filters and he had all kinds of different effects he could do with his minolta 35MM. Is Cokin still a pretty good brand and I have also been seeing a lot of recommendations for Tiffen filters. I know Tiffen has some 58MM thread filters but not sure about Cokin.

The guy who I went to see race and I were having this same discussion today about how we could have changed the outcome of the shots and have been since I did the shoot and he even said he felt they would have been different if it had been a little cloudy which there was no clouds and lots of SUN. I know that one for experience as I got 2nd and 3rd degree sunburns on my legs while shooting.

I am looking at where I can get some different scenarios and I thought about airplanes taking off and landing at the airport or just setting up in a parking lot and film cars driving by on the bypass. Either way I will have some kind of filter before I try this lesson again.

[coffee]

I think Cokin is still a filter leader. I see their name all over the place. Maybe someone with more filter experiance will pipe in about filter quality.

I would think if you could get down to 1/100 on some of those shots on a very sunny day, you can get to 1/60 or slower on a cloudy day certainly. Or ealier and later in the day too when the sun isn't so high. Make sure you post more of your panning shots when you take them.

[jeff-in]

Joseph,
Believe me I will for sure post more pictures once I get them taken and hopefully this time I will be able at a setting lower then 1/125.

The sun was for sure a huge problem that day. I just uploaded an image that I shot that day where I did make it to a 1/50 Tv which the camera chose an F8.0 Av and to look at the exif the histogram is off the chart over-exposed. I think I will for sure be getting the ND filter then trying this lesson again and hopefully next time I am at 1/50 it will be in a good exposure and good shot for the lesson. Also I just learned how to use the burst mode so I will try to get to 1/50 and take several shots as I pan so hopefully I will get the blur that is desired. You can see it some on this shot but too far gone over exposed.

http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/2/1/5/6/img_0269.jpg