With the advent of better camera technology and clever processing software, do we really need neutral density filters any more? Can’t we just replicate the effect of filters in Photoshop or even in camera? Isn’t the dynamic range sufficient in my shiny new Sony camera? Well yes and no…
Graduated Neutral Density filters
I used to shoot with graduated ND filters religiously for many years. There wasn’t a shot I would take without strapping two Graduated ND filters to the front of the lens. Now, with my light weight setup and high dynamic range camera, the Sony A7r, and improved Photoshop skills is there still a need for ND filters? Well yes, but not like before. Now I leave the graduated ND’s at home preferring to capture everything in one or two frames. The Sony A7r allows me to expose for the highlights in a scene and then rescue the shadows in post processing. For the most part this is sufficient and I can capture the entire dynamic range of a scene in a single shot. For anything else I prefer to capture multiple exposures and blend them in post. This gives me less gear to carry, less complexity in the field, and an optically better image (very subtly presuming your filters are clean, neutral in colour and scratch free).
Solid Neutral Density Filters
For me I still feel there is a need to carry the Lee 10 stop ‘Big Stopper’ neutral density filter. I have yet to get my head around using any in camera applications or tested a multiple exposure Photoshop blend. The idea is the same in both instances, take several shorter exposures and either blend them in camera using an application or using Photoshop later in post. I believe the in camera technique will blend multiple exposures into one file saving space on your memory card. However I rarely trust anything done in camera. As an evolution to my light weight camera setup this would be a good next step.
I have now also stopped carrying my 3 stop neutral density filter, which didn’t really get much use anyway. If I really need a longer exposure I will use my polarising filter which equates to 2 stops.
Isle of Skye, Scotland – Two Exposures, one for shadows (no filter), one long exposure with 10 stop ND for clouds and water, Sony A7r
Circular Polarising Filter
I’m sorry, I don’t care what you say, polarisation can not be emulated in Photoshop. It’s a fact, there you go, end of conversation. So for this reason, until cameras have the technology to this in camera you may need to carry one of these. That is if you use one. I tend to only use a circular polarising filter to cut down on reflections, or indirect light and not for darkening skies or making colours pop which can both be done in Photoshop.
Increased Dynamic Range – Software
Up until the introduction of better sensor technology present in the likes of Nikons D800 and the Sony A7r, increasing dynamic range took the form of in camera or post processing software. Camera menu options such as ‘Highlight recovery’ or ‘HDR mode’ were the first indication that camera manufacturers were finally starting to concentrate on increasing dynamic range. However from past experience and being as sceptical as I am, these options where quickly turned off in my Canon 5D MkIII. I’ll do all that stuff in post thanks very much. In post processing, armed with a multiple exposures the likes of Photomatix, the computer software that gave birth to HDR photography, provided an easy way to produce high dynamic range images. Sometimes it would work, other times the final result would look like a psychedelic dog turd, the desired effect in some instances. This style was never for me, even if the leading photographers at the time had made a name for themselves off the back of it. For me, the biggest leap forward has been the advent of luminosity masks. Here was a way blend different exposures and obtain realistic results. In fact they are now the basis of most modern landscape photos.
Learn how to use luminosity masks
Kerlingarfjoll, Iceland – Single Exposure, no filters, Sony A7r
Increased Dynamic Range – Sensors
Pioneers of sensor technology, Sony have been shaking things up of late. Their high dynamic range sensors can be found in a myriad of camera bodies. I must say the Sony A7r I have really can see in the dark. I’m able to exposure for the highlights then recover a bunch of detail from the shadows. There is a bit of noise, but it’s actually quite nice and not like the horrible grid lines I get from the Canon 5D MkII/MkIII. I’m afraid to say as we make advances in camera technology the need for graduated neutral density filters becomes less.
Conclusion
So for me, if you have a high dynamic range camera (most new high end Sony or Nikon’s) or your Photoshop skills are up to blending a couple of exposures, you can at least leave the graduated neutral density filters at home. Have you left yours at home yet?
