Using ND grads

[Shoit]

I have a set of .3 .6 and .9 ND grads but have to admit to finding them difficult to use. The main problem I have is positioning the filter to correctly balance the sky and the landscape. I've tried stopping down the lens using depth of field preview as this is supposed to make things easier but still find it very difficult to get right.

I also seem to be having problems with the metering in these shots, I'm using a d70s.

Would anyone care to contribute any advice on how they use ND grads and how they get the positioning and metering right?

Thanks in advance

Kev

 

[woodsy2k]

From what i have gathered, composition of the shot comes first. Following this, meter for the correct expose for the ground. then depending on how bright the sky is with respect to the ground, insert the correct filter. As for the correct position of the filter with regards to the horizon, (I am assuming you are using these for landscape style shots) I understand that the horixon line should be placed more towards the dark edge of the graduation?

Someone will of course explain this better than me, but i have never actually used one, so im only going on what i have deduced!

OH and appologies if my typing is rubbish, im sitting quite a way from my monitor...

 

[Psilonaught]

do you have an examples of shots you tried to take with the grads? I have been toying with the idea for some time but have yet bite the bullet and just tend to HDR tricky lighting situations