Beecher's Handouts /

Filters /

In the photograph below, I'm holding a graduated neutral density filter in front of the camera.

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The filter gradually fades to clear, thus the name, graduated.

The color of the filter is gray, thus the name, neutral density.

The filter enables you to put "sunglasses" on the bright portions of a scene, such as the sky in this photograph.

You can buy graduated filters that are colored, such as orange for sunsets, and blue for skies.

The filter above is a "two-stop" graduated neutral density filter.

The shaded portion of the filter blocks two stops of light.

This is the most useful strength.

.6 and 4X also mean two stop.

In the photograph below, the filter was positioned to darken the sky.

Click Photograph to Enlarge