Comments on: Handheld Graduated Neutral Density Filter

By: Doug Fischer

Doug Fischer — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:05:08 +0000

Art; Love the show. Got your DVD’s – both sets.

I handhold my ND graduated filter. It is made of resin (Hitech) material and is now badly scratched. I must replace it and have been considering buying a glass graduated nd. Have you thought of trying a glass gnd. Do you use resin?

By: admin

admin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:33:22 +0000

They are both bombproof ballheads. I feel a little more comfortable operating the Kirk, but it is purely a matter of taste.

By: Brady

Brady — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:31:09 +0000

Art,

I noticed in the Mongolia episode that you appeared to be using a RRS BH-55 ballhead. Realizing you usually use the Kirk, I was wondering what your first choice would be. I am in the market for a ballhead and tripod, but have been unsuccessful in finding either of these ballheads in a camera store to actually touch and feel. I am leaning toward a Gitzo GT3451LS, with one of the aforementioned heads. I welcome any input you may have.

Thank you

By: Brady

Brady — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:35:59 +0000

Art,

I was first introduced to the idea of gnd’s on Travel’s to the Edge. They have made an enormous difference in my photography. Thanks for taking the time and effort to make a great series. I am a police officer in the Midwest, so not exactly the “artistic” type. Since watching your show, I have found a new passion. I have also introduced my 4 year old to photography, and he loves watching the “picture show” with me. I have also bought him a cheap point and shoot. He absolutely loves taking pictures anywhere and everywhere. Thanks for helping me find a different side of myself. I, like most police officers I know, was in need of a softer side.

By: admin

admin — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:27:38 +0000

Understanding animal behavior, reognizing the cues they gives us as to their anxiety, takes time. I move in a way that doesn’t alarm that particular species and that particular individual. With some animals, especially the more dangerous ones, there is no substitute for a very long lens.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:54:21 +0000

I admit it’s hard to hold the filter just so on a longer exposure. I just got the hang of it and it works for me. If you continue to get poor results, use a holder.

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:56:28 +0000

Hi Art: I am enjoying your excelent, photography on your PBS shows on “Create.” I am an amateur photographer but I can’t seem to get up close to animals, to get a good photoshoot. They usually run away. Any suggestions? Your ability to capture the most unusual subjects, amazes me. Keep going.Good Luck

By: Arnold Crane

Arnold Crane — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:24:14 +0000

Art: Don’t know if you remember me. I was one of the early members of NANPA – and have sort of fallen away! I am best known for my B & W
portraits of photography’s giants of the 20th century.
Anyway. My wife and I LOVE your TV show, and I am really jealous that I am not young enough to carry the big glass like you do. Your climbing in Madagascar was outrageously fabulous. Bhutan was also wonderful, but you deserve a special Hurrah for the clim. in Mdgscr. I’ve been Digital for a while now, and use Nikdn D3′s and a lighter D700
My warmest regards
Arnold Crane
Arnold Crane

By: Tareq

Tareq — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:05:07 +0000

Hi Art,
Thanks for your answers, i have one question:
I use filters long time ago, and i use always filters holder, but as you are saying that handholding the filters is quicker, but sometimes you get shake in the photos if you touch the lens and using long shutter speed, also if you hold the filter little bit a very tiny distance away from the lens maybe it will show the finer when using ultra wide angle lenses, so how can you avoid all these issues in handholding the filters? I can handhold the filters and i did, but in most of my shots it is either shaking [blurring] or having my part of finger in the frame, and also holding the filter for many shots of shutter speed 10 seconds or 20 seconds up to few minutes is painful, what is your solution?

By: admin

admin — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:33:49 +0000

That’s all we do 99% of the time. I always loved Velvia and that is close to the look we go for, with better shadow detail.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:12:56 +0000

Hi Art,
How much modification do you do to your pictures in Photoshop besides cropping, color, and contrast. I’m curious to know how much modification pro photographers perform on their photos after the shot has been taken.

Thanks for your feedback!
Ray

By: admin

admin — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:39:41 +0000

Thank you, Seung Kye.

I clean my filters all the time. However, it is hard to see the effects of smudges or scratches except on wide angle lenses stopped down quite a bit. Keep the GND in a cold place, not in a warm pocket, and there will be less condensation.

By: Seung Kye Lee

Seung Kye Lee — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:14:26 +0000

Dear Art.

First of all, I am a big (not tall;-) fan of your photography and environmental activities!
Thanks for inspiration, when I first started I studied your work to find out what made them work, light and composition and so forth.

Question: are you ever worried about image quality due to fingerprints, hard-to-see spots on your filters?

Question 2: how do you deal with condense on gnd filters in cold places where the condense freezes almost instantly?

I started hand-holding a year ago and it was really a challenge for me the first time..I felt naked not using the Lee filter holder, but after practice I seldom used the holder anymore. I find hand-holding, and moving, the best solution when shooting longer exposures at more complex landscapes with uneven horizon lines. Also, as you stated, it`s much faster and easier to have a fluid work-flow at the scene.

Amongst 3 most used gnd filters I own, only one has gotten a scratch…strong wind made the filter get wings of it`s own and I had to run after it in the snow to catch it!..winters in Norway can be tough, but oh my, I feel so lucky to experience it`s beauty.
Well, I am ususally very careful with my equipment.

Enough said, thanks for sharing your thoughts and latest news here.
Very inspiring.

Thank you.

Sincerely
Seung Kye
http://www.leeseungkye.com

By: admin

admin — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Hi,

I hold the filter flush as you say. Over time, they get scratched and i get another.

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:14:49 +0000

Art,

Do you hold the neutral grad filter flush with the front of our lens when hand holding? Do you have any tips to keep from scratching filters?