Hello, everyone, I’m Valentinos Loucaides and lately I’ve been getting a lot of questions about long exposure photography, what filters I use, what you should buy, how to use them and many more that come along the world of Filter Photography. 

I'm going to split this post in sections so you can get what you need! From beginner to advanced photographer and from cheap to expensive gear and also tips and tricks and mistakes I’ve done along the way so you can avoid them. 

Please feel free to ask anything in the comments below and I'll  do my best to get it in the post!

 Section 1, The basics for Beginners

• What is a filter? A filter is something that you can put in front of your lens to achieve something that is not provided by the lens alone, for example, protection from scratches and cracks of the front element (glass), reduction of the amount of light entering the lens, achieving the effects of polarized light. I will explain below what is everything you didn’t possibly understand.

• What are the most common filters to use? The most used filter is the UV filter, that is just for protection of your lens and does not offer any additional effect to your photography, it could in some cases have negative results if it’s bad quality or not very clean. The next most used filter is the circular polarizer (CPL) I’ll explain in detail below about the polarizing filter. And lastly, comes the Neutral Density (ND) filters with all their variations that achieve reduction of the amount of light entering the lens.

• Do I need a filter? Well here there are many opinions going around, the truth is NO you don't need any filter other than the Circular Polarizer (CPL) which offers an effect that cannot be reproduced digitally. So for me here there are 2 ways.

  • If you like to work for hours on a single photo on a computer (Photoshop person) to get it to your desired result then you only need a CPL

  • If you want to get the photo on camera and then fine tune it on a computer (Lightroom Person), like me, then get the filters!

• What is an ND Filter? An ND filter is the Neutral Density filter and it's a black piece of glass that goes in front of your lens and works exactly like sunglasses for your eyes!

• What is a GND? A GND (Graduated Neutral Density) filter is an ND which is darker on one end and it gradually becomes transparent on the other end.

• What is a CPL? A CPL (Circular PoLarizer) is a rotating filter that goes in front of your lens and polarizes the light that is coming in your lens, (Geek Explanation here). In simple photography world, a CPL will remove reflections and glare from water and will saturate your colours. (Further explanation below).

• What is a UV Filter? Its a transparent piece of glass that will protect your lens from scratches.

• What is vignetting? Its the effect that sometimes on the four corners of your photo you can see reduced brightness in comparison to the centre of the image. (A black shadow on the corners)

• What is Long Exposure Noice reduction? On this mode, your camera will take a second image just right after the first one but with the mirror locked down so the photo comes entirely black, after this it will automatically calculate the digital noise from the second image and remove it from the first one. In our case here we don't need it because we are going to shoot at the lowest possible ISO and also it will take double the time to get the shot.

• What is Vibration Reduction (VR)? VR is a feature the will stabilize handheld shots so you can take a shot at lower shutter speeds without blurry images. It used to be only the lenses but lately is available on the camera sensors for some Sony cameras. This feature is not offering anything if your camera is stable on a tripod, and in fact, it will make your image a little bit blurry because its gonna try to look for micro vibrations that are not there since you are on a tripod!

• What is a cable release? A cable release or a remote shutter as you may hear it is a cable connected to your camera that will allow you to release your shutter and keep it open for as long as you like without touching the camera and thus avoiding causing vibrations.

• What is bulb setting? When you are in Manual mode you will see that the lowest possible shutter speed you can get out of your camera is 30sec. after that there is a setting for the shutter speed that will say Bulb, on this setting your shutter will remain open for as long as you keep holding down your shutter button (on your camera or on you release cable).

• What is a step up ring? It's a ring that will go on the front of your lens and will allow you to screw a larger filter on a smaller lens. For example, if your lens has a 67mm filter threat and your filter is 77mm you can use a 67 to 77mm step up ring so you can use that filter instead of buying one for every lens you own.

Section 2, How things work (Beginners-Medium) 

The CPL (Circular PoLarizer)  

• What can i do with a CPL? As i said above it can remove the glare from water. e.x. Lets say for example you have a waterfall or a river coming down and all the rocks are wet and looking nice but when you take the photo there is reflecting light from the wet parts of the rock and you cannot get the nice details at that point. Having a CPL along will let you remove that glare by simply rotating the filter!

• Gives you the ability to photograph below the surface of water, e.x. you can shoot a shallow river and get the amazing patterns below the water surface.

It will also add more saturation and contrast to your images.   e.x. Lets say you have clouds in the sky, point the camera at the sky and rotate your filter to make the blue of the sky pop and enhance the clouds. 

It will offer a slight light reduction of light entering the lens (Works like an ND).

• I'm rotating my CPL and nothing happens, Why? So you got a CPL, you put it on the lens and you go out point your camera at something and rotate.... and nothing happens no change what so ever. No, your filter is not broken! The CPL will not have any effect if you are pointing in the direction of the sun or it's opposite!

  • RULE: CPL Works best when you point your camera 90 degrees from the sun.

Memory Rule: Make you palm as a pistol grip and point your index finger at the sun and rotate your palm clockwise or anti-clockwise while pointing at the sun, you thumb will give you the best angle to take your photo to maximise the effect of the CPL.

• Types of CPL

  • Screw on Filter: It will screw on the front of your lens and you can rotate it from there. 

    • Pros: Cheaper than buying a square system and easy to carry and use

    • Cons: Cannot be combined with other filters easily. If you do combine them:

      • you will get a lot of vignetting at wide angles 

      • with a high-density ND you wont be able adjust the polarizer to the desired position because you won't be able to see anything from the viewfinder. 

      • extremely hard to combine with a GND.

  • CPL for Square filter mounting system: This can be a part of a group of filters that can be mounted together in the front of your lens. 

    • Pros: 

      • Minimal to no Vignetting at wide angles

      • Can be combined with 3 or more filters ND + GND + 2nd GND

      • Can be adjusted independently of the other filters.

      • Better Quality 

• Cons:

  • Larger than the screw on filter and is a pain to curry. 

  • Much more expensive 

  • Takes some time to install and use 

The ND (Neutral Density)  Filter

As we said above the ND Filter will reduse the light coming in your camera. The question is why would you want to do that since we all know the more light the better? There are a couble of reasons but what i will talk about will be about redusing the shutter speed and thus getting a long exposure shot during the day. 

Types of ND Filters, just like the CPL there are the exact same categories for ND Filters.

• Screw on Filters: Just like the CPL they can be screwed directly on your lens.

  • Pros:

    • Cheaper than Square filters.

    • Don't need a mount.

    • Can be used on several lenses with Step up rings.

    • Easy to carry.

  • Cons

    • Too much vignetting if you stuck them together.

    • Next to impossible to use with a GND.

    • Very hard to use with a CPL.

    • Usually lower quality than Square.

• Square filters: these are the best option if you want to get the best results

  • Pros:

    • Very good quality (Depending on what you buy)

    • Can be stacked together with next to no vignetting.

    • Can be removed from the lens very fast to adjust

    • your frame and exposure

  • Cons:

    • They get very expensive

    • You can get them dirty really fast with your fingers.

    • You need to be very careful while installing them on

    • the mount because if you don't adjust them precisely you will get some ugly light leaks.

    • You need to be extra careful not to break them

    • You need a large pouch to carry them and keep them safe.

What are Stops (ADVANCED)? I'm sure you heard before about filter stop or F-Stops so let's see what those are by the help of the following 2 images. Every large point on the photos below is  1 - Stop. 

Let's go with an example. 

We have a shot and we want to reduce light by 6-Stops in order to get a long exposure shot.

Let's assume that the shot is taken at the lowest possible iso to get the best dynamic range and the least amount of noise. 

Let's say we got the shot at F/11 and 1/125''. 

We need to make our exposure longer, what possible ways do we have? 

1. Smaller Aperture

2. Add a Filter. 

3. Lower the ISO

Since we are doing a long exposure the only way to go is by adding a filter because lower iso is not an option since we are already at the lowest possible iso, also also closing our aperture down to f/22 will introduse other problems and it's also only 2 stops. 

If our filter is 6 - Stops we need to keep our exposure the same, so we increase our shutter speed by 6 stops. if you count below 6 major points 1/125'' will become 1/2'' so we managed a quite long exposure time!

Getting the shot Step by Step

*Beginner User, Screw on filters

What you will need: Camera, Tripod, Cable release, ND

You are at your location, you got your frame and you are ready to measure your exposure and get the shot. 

Mode: Any.

Let's use the example below to get step by step process:

1. Find your frame

2. Setup the tripod (make sure is steady)

3. Connect your shutter release cable

4. Turn off VR (Vibration Reduction OFF)

5. Set your ISO to the lowest Possible setting.

6. Focus your camera and then Switch to Manual Focus and make sure you don't touch the focus ring on your lens or move the tripod. This step is the most important in order to get a sharp image with an ND Filter. The reason we use manual focus is that after we install the filter on our lens we will see complete black from the viewfinder and there is no way to focus!

7. Measure your shot. You should avoid (P) Mode but this will work even in that. In whatever mode you are, write down or remember the settings that the camera has calculated (For example (ISO 100, f/10, 1/25 Sec)

8. Carefully install your ND Filter without touching the focus.

9. Find a way to cover the eyepiece of your viewfinder. You can use a small piece of aluminium. This step does not apply if you are using a mirrorless camera.

10. Now is the step that is you need to calculate your shutter speed with an ND Filter... The easiest way to do so is by downloading an app called LEE Stopper (its available for both iOS and Android). After getting the app is a straightforward process. You select your filter stops on top (6/10/15 Stops) you input your shutter speed and it will give you the new shutter speed you need to use. ex for me 1/25 sec was 40Sec with the 10 stop filter.

11. Set your camera to Manual Mode, Set the shutter speed to Bulb and the Aperture and ISO to what you noted on step 8.

12. Take the shot with your cable release. Leave the shutter open for the amount of time you got from the app.

13. You are done.

*Medium User, Square filters

What you will need: Camera, Tripod, Cable release, CPL, ND

You are at your location, you got your frame and you are ready to measure your exposure and get the shot. 

Mode: Any.

Let's use the example below to get step by step process:

1. Find your frame

2. Setup the tripod (make sure is steady)

3. Connect your shutter release cable

4. Turn off VR (Vibration Reduction OFF)

5. Set your ISO to the lowest Possible setting.

6. Adjust your CPL (if you are using one)

7. Focus your camera and then Switch to Manual Focus and make sure you don't touch the focus ring on your lens or move the tripod. This step is the most important in order to get a sharp image with an ND Filter. The reason we use manual focus is that after we install the filter on our lens we will see complete black from the viewfinder and there is no way to focus!

8. Measure your shot. You should avoid (P) Mode but this will work even in that. In whatever mode you are, write down or remember the settings that the camera has calculated (For example (ISO 100, f/10, 1/25 Sec)

9. Carefully install your ND Filter.

10. Find a way to cover the eyepiece of your viewfinder. You can use a small piece of aluminium. This step does not apply if you are using a mirrorless camera.

11. Now is the step that is you need to calculate your shutter speed with an ND Filter... The easiest way to do so is by downloading an app called LEE Stopper (its available for both iOS and Android). After getting the app is a straightforward process. You select your filter stops on top (6/10/15 Stops) you input your shutter speed and it will give you the new shutter speed you need to use. ex for me 1/25 sec was 40Sec with the 10 stop filter.

12. Set your camera to Manual Mode, Set the shutter speed to Bulb and the Aperture and ISO to what you noted on step 8.

13. Take the shot with your cable release. Leave the shutter open for the amount of time you got from the app.

14. You are done.

*Advanced User, Square filters

What you will need: Camera, Tripod, Cable release, CPL, ND, GND

You are at your location, you got your frame and you are ready to measure your exposure and get the shot. 

Mode: Manual (M)

Let's use the example below to get step by step process:

1. Find your frame

2. Setup the tripod (make sure is steady)

3. Connect your shutter release cable

4. Turn off VR (Vibration Reduction OFF)

5. Turn off Long Exposure Noise Reduction

6. Make 100% sure Auto ISO is OFF

7. Adjust your CPL (if you are using one)

8. Focus your camera and then Switch to Manual Focus and make sure you don't touch the focus ring on your lens or move the tripod. This step is the most important in order to get a sharp image with an ND Filter. The reason we use manual focus is that after we install the filter on our lens we will see complete black from the viewfinder and there is no way to focus! (Expert Mode: Focus Stack your image for the best possible sharpness)

9. Measure your shot. At the image below (left) I want to expose at f/10 ISO64 so I need to have a shutter speed of 1/25Sec according to my camera. I take the shot and check my histogram and I adjust until I get the best possible histogram.

10. If you are using a GND now is the time to install it and adjust it. (Expert Mode: Switch to Spot metering and measure your highlights and shadows separately, figure out the difference in stops and use the appropriate GND filter to compensate)

11. Carefully install your ND Filter. (Make sure the filter foam is fit on the square mount and is not allowing light leaks)

12. Find a way to cover the eyepiece of your viewfinder (High-end Nikon's have a shutter closing lever). You can use a small piece of aluminium. The reason we do this is to avoid any light leaks from the viewfinder to the sensor. This step does not apply if you are using a mirrorless camera its only valid for DSLRs.

13. Now is the step that is you need to calculate your shutter speed with an ND Filter... The easiest way to do so is by downloading an app called LEE Stopper (its available for both iOS and Android). After getting the app is a straightforward process. You select your filter stops on top (6/10/15 Stops) you input your shutter speed and it will give you the new shutter speed you need to use. ex for me 1/25 sec was 40Sec with the 10 stop filter.

14. Set your camera to Bulb

15. Take the shot with your cable release. Leave the shutter open for the amount of time you got from the app.

16. Check your histogram,adjust, retake until you are satisfied with the histogram, never relay on your screen.

17. You are done.

Tips and Mistakes I've done so you can avoid them

• Turn OFF VR (Vibration Reduction).

• Turn OFF Auto ISO.

• Turn OFF Long Exp. Noise reduction.

• Use manual focus.

• Learn to read and understand your camera's histogram and never trust your camera screen for correct exposure.

• Make sure you close your eyepiece during the daytime.  

• Use a Good Steady Tripod. 

• If your tripod is on the sand use 3 cds under the tripod legs to prevent it from sinking in the sand and cause blurry images.

• Make sure you lock all axis of your tripod head.

• Use your camera's Accelerometer to Level your shot. 

• Shoot in Uncompressed RAW

• Make sure your filters are clean. 

• Have a piece of cloth to clean your camera and your filters if there is moisture around. (for example when shooting near the beach)

• Have extra batteries because long exposure will drain your batteries fast. 

• Shoot during the Golden Hours 

• If you are shooting near water bring some anti-insect spray. 

• Plan your shot if possible before arriving on location.

• 2Sec timer is your friend 

•  

•  

• and many others i cannot remember at the moment... i'll keep this list going 

Gear (Beginner to Advanced)

Ok, what to buy is the question most people want to know? what to begin with? There is no single way to go.... I'll give you my thoughts but you need to decide what is best for you!

Beginner

Before you go out and buy stuff make sure you know what they do! Go out at late afternoon or early morning and try without filters to see what happens... some test settings, set your camera to the lowest possible ISO and your aperture to the lower possible value (Largest F-Number, f/22 +) so let's say aperture priority mode (A or Av) set ISO200 F/22 and take the shot to see what happens... try again.... and again.... and again... until you like one image

 Ok, now you should be ready to take it one step further, so here are my recommendations... (Don't buy all at once!!)

• Tripod: Manfrotto MKBFRA4-BH Befree

• CPL : Hoya Polarisation filter Cir. Pro1 Digital (Make sure you get the correct mm for your lens)

• 10 Stop ND: Hoya Pro ND-Filter (Neutral Density 1000, 58mm)

• Cheap 3rd party release cable (Neewer® LCD Display Timer)

Advanced

Here I'll give you a list of what I use now... (Note that all this was purchased over time and one piece at a time!)

• Tripod: Manfrotto XProb (10-year-old tripod not available anymore, the alternative is Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 055 Carbon)

• Ball Head: Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ2 XPRO Magnesium

• CPL: Mounting System: NiSi V5-Pro Filter Kit 100mm-System + Landscape NC CPL

• ND: NiSi 100 x 100 mm Neutral Density Filter, IR ND1000

• GND: NiSi 100x150mm GND8 0.9 Medium

• Filter Carry Case: Lowepro S&F Filter Pouch

• Release Cable: Nikon MC-36A

The most important thing about all this is to enjoy the moments!

Please tell me your thoughts or questions or whatever you want to ask.... 

Thank you, 

Valentinos 

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