A Simple Light
Control Tool
Neutral Density (ND) filters are often ignored by photographers, but
they have several uses and offer the possibility to achieve
otherwise unachievable results. ND filters appear grey and
reduce the amount of light reaching the film, they have no
affect on color balance. ND2 provides 1 stop decrease in light,
and ND4 provides a 2 stop decrease in light.
ND filters have four main uses:
- To enable slow shutter speeds to be used, especially with fast
films, to record movement in subjects such as waterfalls,
clouds, cars, ocean waves, etc. ocean
- To decrease depth of field by allowing wider apertures to be
used, which helps separate subjects from their background.
- To decrease the effective ISO of high speed film (ie: above
ISO400) and allow it to be used outdoors in blight-light
situations.
- To allow cine and video cameras (which have fixed shutter
speeds) to film subjects such as snow, sand or other highly
reflective subjects which would normally cause over-exposure. |
