I am wondering how do people determine the correct positioning of something like a 2stop soft ND grad. The transition appears very soft and it seems to be hard to pick the point where it should be placed...?
I am wondering how do people determine the correct positioning of something like a 2stop soft ND grad. The transition appears very soft and it seems to be hard to pick the point where it should be placed...?
I put a Post-it note on the front of the filter, stop down the lens, then adjust the filter.
Be sure to take the Post-it note off the filter before shooting. Don't ask me how I learned that part.
I just move the filter a bit, up and down and begin to see the transition. However I feel that for film photogpraphy, hard grads are easier to use and more practical in the field.
I usually use my viewing card (black matte board) or a film holder held in front of the lens with filter in place. While looking at the GG I position the dark line of the card or holder where I want it and then pinch it to the filter holder while I make my way out from under the dark cloth. I simply match the beginning of the graduation to the position of the card, check focus again (just in case I bumped the front standard during the process), and shoot away.
Don't forget that the transition becomes harder if you stop down. If you have enough light, try stopping down to taking aperture (or around f/22 if you are planning on shooting wide open) before adjusting the position.
Use the card and clip included with the filter i sold you.
this works vinny. how did you decide on the lenght of the card?Originally Posted by vinny
Just do the card as far down the filter as the transition line. Hold it up to a light; the demarcation is quite clear, even on soft grads.
Lachlan.
You miss 100% of the shots you never take. -- Wayne Gretzky
A good tip for positioning soft grads is to stop down the lens, and also to move and jiggle the filter around a bit in the holder - the movement makes it much easier to see. However some brands of soft grad are just way too soft, Lee being the prime offender. I swapped my set of Lee soft grads for hard ones, best thing I ever did.
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