Large Format Landscapes

[StoneNYC]

Thanks for the kind words everyone!



As others have mentioned, the "soft" describes the transition between the dark and clear areas on the filter. Supposedly they are useful for uneven horizons, such as mountains, when a hard transition line cannot be used. Practically though, I have not found them to be very useful, especially for large format. Due to the "sensor size" of the cameras we use, "hard" transition filters are actually still pretty soft...even at very small apertures.

Thank you so much for the extra bit of info, now I understand and also know that probably from my work, a soft filter really isn't necessary, but it's good to know that they exist in someway thank you so much.

[Nana Sousa Dias]

Haha I'm glad it works for you

I'm not saying you can't get good images from them just that I don't want to lol

They don't interfere with the image, Stone. ;-)

[StoneNYC]

They don't interfere with the image, Stone. ;-)

[alexn]

Thank you so much for the extra bit of info, now I understand and also know that probably from my work, a soft filter really isn't necessary, but it's good to know that they exist in someway thank you so much.

Mate - I don't mean to sound rude, but anyone who intends to shoot, or does shoot any considerable amount of transparency film in any format should really have at the very least a 1 and 2 stop soft grad ND and a 2 and 3 stop hard edge grad ND along with a holder to be able to put the graduation edge where required in the frame.. I have shot images on RVP50 that required 4 grad filters in different positions to achieve a balanced exposure, and to be honest, I RARELY expose velvia 50 without at least one grad filter being used... If you hope to achieve good images on slide film you really really need to get a set of GND filters, even if they are cheaper ones, just to tame the light.. Very rarely is a whole scene uniform enough to render in a pleasing fashion with only 4~5 stops of range...

The real exception for me is shooting waterfalls at the bottom of deep gorges or shooting architecture... in nearly every other situation I think you can work a grad filter in to benefit the overall image.

[StoneNYC]

Mate - I don't mean to sound rude, but anyone who intends to shoot, or does shoot any considerable amount of transparency film in any format should really have at the very least a 1 and 2 stop soft grad ND and a 2 and 3 stop hard edge grad ND along with a holder to be able to put the graduation edge where required in the frame.. I have shot images on RVP50 that required 4 grad filters in different positions to achieve a balanced exposure, and to be honest, I RARELY expose velvia 50 without at least one grad filter being used... If you hope to achieve good images on slide film you really really need to get a set of GND filters, even if they are cheaper ones, just to tame the light.. Very rarely is a whole scene uniform enough to render in a pleasing fashion with only 4~5 stops of range...

The real exception for me is shooting waterfalls at the bottom of deep gorges or shooting architecture... in nearly every other situation I think you can work a grad filter in to benefit the overall image.

Not rude just a different way of working, I see your point, I do have one grad nd, (.06) it's not enough for intense light so I'll probably pick up a 1.2 grad nd.

I rarely shift far from center position when shooting such a severe degree of difference. And it comes down to weight and use ability, I can't carry everything on my back, I don't own mules, so when hiking I have to choose carefully, the 8x10 and holders already add a lot of weight, 3 lenses (4 if I HAVE to) and a FEW filters.

I've done the 75lb trips, I want to keep it to 60lbs from now on, when you add good, camping gear, etc there's not much left for camera gear. So I can't carry 4-6 grad ND's that are the size that you guys propose, so much glass is heavy.

Understand these aren't overnights these are 5-8 day trips for me.

Back to landscapes...

NO grad-ND used at all for this chrome.

8x10 E100G circ-pol 300 C

[Nana Sousa Dias]

That sky would be much better with a ND graduated filter...imo.

[vinny]

+1 What Alex said.
+1 What Nana said.

[StoneNYC]

That sky would be much better with a ND graduated filter...imo.

I agree, but it's not completely unusable is what I'm meaning, at least not for me, I MEANT to out one on, it was a mistake, but the setup took me 20 minutes with all the movements I used, that I totally forgot. It happens

[Kodachrome25]

And it comes down to weight and use ability, I can't carry everything on my back, I don't own mules, so when hiking I have to choose carefully, the 8x10 and holders already add a lot of weight, 3 lenses (4 if I HAVE to) and a FEW filters.

I've done the 75lb trips, I want to keep it to 60lbs from now on, when you add good, camping gear, etc there's not much left for camera gear. So I can't carry 4-6 grad ND's that are the size that you guys propose, so much glass is heavy.

Understand these aren't overnights these are 5-8 day trips for me.

Back to landscapes...

NO grad-ND used at all for this chrome.

8x10 E100G circ-pol 300 C

&

but the setup took me 20 minutes with all the movements I used, that I totally forgot. It happens

20 minutes...ouch.

Look just how *much* more powerful even the average work is on here compared to this shot, let alone shooters like Nana or Jeff Dex....

I keep a flat protected cascading
folder of 6 ND grad filters ( 3 hard, 3 soft ) with me at all times for landscape work, and that is with black and white, 6x6, 4x5 and digital. The impact of the image comes first and foremost.....you really should have mastered medium format and 4x5 before saddling your self with the sheer production of 8x10....

I'm tough on you because you just don't see that in terms of composition and nuance of light, you are way behind in terms of having a voice in that. Why don't you join this workshop? I'll pay for your tuition bro....

[djdister]

&



20 minutes...ouch.

Look just how *much* more powerful even the average work is on here compared to this shot, let alone Nana's or Jeff Dex. I keep a flat protected cascading
folder of 6 ND grad filters ( 3 hard, 3 soft ) with me at all times for landscape work, and that is with black and white, 6x6, 4x5 and digital. The impact of the image comes first and foremost.....you really should have mastered medium format and 4x5 before saddling your self with the sheer production of 8x10....

That's a rather harsh thrashing of Stone's image, but of course that is just my opinion and not a pronouncement.