Nuetral Density Fun (NDF) at Yellowstone

[the_hefay]

I've really enjoyed using my 10-stop ND filter the last few days. I'm no expert at using one by any means, but continue to learn something new everytime I use it. Here's a few shots I took in Yellowstone with it.

[sury]

Nice set Jeff. The second one is an interesting shot. What was the exposure time?
Love the third one.

Sury

[the_hefay]

Thanks Sury. To answer your question, it was 15 sec. But, because I feel like typing some more, here's the data for each shot. Also each was with the 16-80cz and the a77ii.

Cascade.
6 sec. - f/8 - iso 100 - 50mm

Lake with steam.
15 sec. - f/10 - iso 200 - 80mm

Log in the lake.
64 sec. - f/8 - iso 50 - 16mm

[sury]

Thank you Jeff. Great camera/lens combo, I say.

Sury

[Birma]

Lovely creamy flow in the first and a serene feel to the last.

I always get a nasty red cast with my 10 stop filter. What make have you got?

[the_hefay]

Thanks Andy. I have a Hoya filter. ProND1000. I haven't noticed any color or wb issues with it. It's not slim so with my 16-80cz @ 16mm the filter ring shows up in the corners.

What filter do you have?

[the_hefay]

Here's a couple more. Lower Yellowstone Falls and Gibbon Falls.

[the_hefay]

And one more, this time of Kepler Cascade.

[sury]

Excellent shots. Looks like you had a field day (no pun intended) with that ND filter.

[the_hefay]

Thanks Sury. You're absolutely right. It was a good day; no rain and temps in the 70's.

Here's one of my favorite places to photograph. Every trip to Yellowstone I shoot this spot. Like always, some days are better than others and I have taken plenty of "just ok" shots over the years of these trees and their reflections. That being said, I'm pretty happy with the way this one turned out. 25 sec. exposure.

[sury]

You have every reason to be happy with the shot.

Sury

[jbtaylor]

Great stuff.
In July, I will be visiting Acadia National Park for at least 6 days and plan much NDF. I have the 5 stop filter for the ZA 24mm f2.0 and a 10 stop filter for the RX1. Please share with us how you get your shutter speeds with the 10 stop. Do you use a chart? How do you compose with such a dark filter (maybe you compose and then add the filter).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[the_hefay]

JT, I must say I'm jealous. I've always wanted to visit Acadia. I hope your trip there is enjoyable. As to composing with a 10-stop NF filter, it's quite simple with any camera that has live view. I've only used it on my a77ii which has the EVF so it has live view on the back and in the viewfinder. Whenever the camera had trouble focusing I just used the zoom focus function to manually set the focus. So for the most part, it was just like composing for any other shot. I've never used a chart and except for the log shot on the edge of the lake, I was always in "A" mode. The 64 seconds in that shot was really the amount of time it took for me to quickly walk to the nearest tree, do my business, and return. So a little bit of luck and a little patience is all it took for me.

[Birma]

Thanks for the tips Jeff. I will have a look at the Hoya NDs.

JT, I check exposure and focus without the filter. Then for each stop of the filter I double the shutter speed setting the camera manually.

[sury]

Thanks for the tips Jeff. I will have a look at the Hoya NDs.

JT, I check exposure and focus without the filter. Then for each stop of the filter I double the shutter speed setting the camera manually.

Andy,
Do you double the shutter speed or halve the shutter speed? Just curious.

Sury