Dunraven Bay - First real play with some new filters

Soldato
Joined
17 Sep 2006
Posts
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Location
Gloucestershire
As I really want to take my landscape photography up a notch, I invested in some new filters, but not the usual circular kind, some nice rectangular drop in filters :)

The main filter I was keen to use is a graduated ND filter, and you basically slide the filter up and down to were you want the start of the ND bit of the filter. So mainly on the horizon, and the sky is much brighter than the land.

Anywho, the pics. I warn you now, some of them are pretty similar, but I can't decide which ones of them I like best

1. Can't decide between these first four.
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2.
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3.
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4.
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5. Or the next three!
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6.
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7.
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8.
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9.
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10. Bit of a random one, but I like the moody clouds in it!
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11.
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12.
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13.
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14.
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15.
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To give you an idea of what the Grad ND filter can do, here's some with/without shots:

GND-Comparison.jpg


GND-Comparison-2.jpg


oh.....and what happens if you get too close lol!
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Thanks. I decided 5 and 12 are my favs. 5 because I like the way the water is flowing from the rock in the foreground, but another may grow on me in time lol!

PaulStat - Yes Lee filters, although the sunset ones were taken with a Hitech 0.9 GND, as 0.6 was proving to be not enough.
 
Nice shots, I can't really make up my mind which I like the most as they all offer something slightly different.

Really thinking about investing in a slot in filter system, although still not sure on which to go for.
 
Thanks guys. If you really want to get into landscape photography more, I can't recommended them enough.

If you don't want to fork out for the expensive Lee filters, Hitech are significantly cheaper, I have two of them, and they are still very good, with a VERY slight magenta cast to them as they aren't quite as good as Lee.

Another brand is Cokin, but I would recommend the Z range, as they are 100mm, and you could still buy Lee filters to use as wel (if you get the right holder).
 
What Lee filter system did you get as I'm thinking to order some this week.
Looking at the Foundation Kit I am guessing I will need this and then the adapter to fit on my lens(es) or will this foundation kit work out the box for example on my 18-105mm lens (68mm filter size) until I get a better WA lens.

EDIT, think I've worked it out, guess I would need a 68mm thread adaptor to fit the kit on to.
 
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Ive got the SLR started kit, and 77mm adapter ring.

I also got two Hitech filters too, slightly cheaper than Lee! Oh....and in stock too!
 
Yeah I was looking at those filters, seem good value and recommended on here etc. Was thinking to just get the Hitech 85mm system as its quite cheap and seems to give the same options as the Lee kit.
 
The Lee kit is expensive but it is arguably the best. Hitech filters are nearly as good but not as cast free as the Lee filters. The only problem with Lee filters is actually getting a hold of them. There is a waiting list for the nd grads of a few weeks for some of the range.
 
I'm not sure for my limited use of it if its worth spending the £50 over the £5 of the Hitech filter kit although I'm quite happy to if it is a better system to use. I would probably get the Hitech filters although some of the Lee packs look interesting.

Sorry for slightly derailing this thread Shadowness :)
 
I'll highly recommend the Lee filters too, expensive but worth it in my opinion.

I have the foundation kit, a 68mm wide adaptor ring and the hard nd grad set. Plan to get the soft nd grad set soon :)
 
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