One of the best landscape photography books out there (and I have about 30 from the likes of Ansel Adams, Thomas Heaton, Adam Gibbs, Nigel Danson, Andrew Baruffi, Guy Tal, Peter Watson, Joe Cornish, David Noton, etc.). The forward by Adam Gibbs is a pisser. Buy it!
Gavin, the GENUINE look of excitement and happiness on your face during that sunrise is EXACTLY the moment that shows your genuine love for what you do. I know the feeling well and chase it everytime I go out. That was a moment of real and unscripted emotion for photography and the amazing atmosphere the world shows us from time to time. Thanks for sharing that moment.
I like your videos, in general (though I miss the combo of you and Uncle Grumpy since you moved). This video, where you just straight talked the filter ins-and-outs was really good. You should do more of this kind of practical advice on ancillary gear, from time to time!
I still use ND and ND grads. Call me old fashion but I do like trying to get it “right” in camera. I have tried the Lightroom approach. The two approaches do give different result imho.
You are 100% correct! I carry $150 10 stop neutral density filter and a $90 CPL and all of my lenses are the same filter size "67mm". I do own one of those slide in filter holder systems but I never use it, looks cool though 😎.
I use nd filters along with a cpl to expose stream beds in my waterfall photos. The long exposure allows the stream bed to show through the moving water.
"Turd polisher." I can't imagine what filter company wouldn't want you as a spokesman ;-) I actually think of Michael Shaneblum and Ben Harvey when I think of long exposures. Spectacular image of the sunrise, thank you for sharing. From my point of view, always take the shot and then explain it: Priorities! I do hope the $$$ slows down WRT the church rehab. Keep your eyes on how awesome it will eventually be. Cheers!
Hi Gavin. Watching your videos from Myanmar. I wouldn’t forget about you because you inspired me to pick up camera and enjoy the process. Keep it up. Cheers.
I really love your videos this one in particular. I only now use a Polarizer and could not persuade my friend that filters where not needed. I agree they are expensive and also can produce colour casts which are difficult to process. I do search for your videos if I haven't seen them. Enjoy your amusing dialogue. Merry Christmas to you both!
Gavin, Gavin, Gavin. Amanda Can't possibly steal your line (or anything else). You're married. Memorize this phrase...What's mine is hers, what's hers is hers. You're welcome😂 Great filter tips! The examples are really helpful. I use filters once or twice a year. I can think of a couple images that would have been better with an ND filter smoothing out wind chop.
The first 46 years of my photography I mostly shot b&w film. I still have a stack of different filters in my cabinet that I used then. Ever since I started shooting digital in 2005 I have only used CPLs for certain shots. No need for anything else for my work. I never did figure out which is the clean end of a turd to pick up for polishing so I mostly don't bother with them anymore. Still guilty of trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear for some of my shots, though. Please tell Amanda hello for me. She is a bright spot on this cold overcast day here in Tennessee. :))
Top content as always Gavin. Stunning sunrise 🖤 Great video, honest and accurate, grad nds are a relic of the film days, yes there are those people who just have to do it in camera (because they can’t embrace computer processing most likely) and need to lug all that extra gear around and complain about its limitations. But lets face it, it’s not necessary, a good cpl and a heavy nd and you’re good to go 👍🏻
This is easily the best bullsh*t-free explanation of filters, and why most of them are a complete waste of time, money, and complexity. Like you, I only have a CPL and a terd-polishing 10-stop ND - both magnetic. I sold the rest of my filters over a year ago. Damn that bloody church. It is in a lovely spot, though.
ahhh! those colors. It just triggers that primitive part of the brain that goes "Gooooold...I love goooold! It glitters and shines, it must be gold" It never gets boring to look at.
The ‘circular’ in CPL is the mode of polarisation (they don’t have to be round !) because ‘linear’ polarisers can interfere with the metering system in cameras, so a quarter wave retardation filter is added to a linear filter to correct the problem. The linear can get a little more polarising effect in some circumstances.
A natural night, or astro filter for your camera, is not something that you can do in a typical RAW photo editor. Blocking certain wavelengths of light just isn't something that you can do in Adobe's products, or any other typical photography application. Using sensors that pick up certain wavelengths of light, or filters for broad spectrum imaging allow you to either block certain specific wavelengths or only allow certain narrow wavelengths through, i.e. narrow band filters. Narrow band filters are what you would use to build up an image composite for astrophotography, or more likely deep sky astrophotography, or astronomy. But for wide angle landscape astrophotography it is always better to use a natural night or astro filter to get rid of the light pollution from mercury vapour, LED and sodium based light sources, it removes that yellow and orange cast to the scene. Even in urban environments, a natural night filter can take away those wavelengths of light and give you a much nicer end result. You can't really do that properly in post production.
Gavin, often thought the same about high end CPL filters, but you're the first respected photographer (that I've come across) to say it publicly. Thank you for that. Merry (Happy) Christmas you & Amanda... have a wonderful holiday season.
I forget about you every week (until the next video!). Haven't missed one in years. I carry only a CPL but, once in a great while, I'll dig out a dark ND for some specific purpose.
The sunrise photo is taken down the road from my dad’s house. I noticed you were walking the beach at the Five Islands Provincial Park (rock called Old Wife).Hoping to see a photo of the diamond rocks behind the park. Really enjoying your videos.
I absolutely agree to only use a CPL. I learned that in 1988 from a KODAK Co. photographer in Yellowstone N‘tl Park when he let me use his for a test shot. i immediately bought a CPL in the next town and I never regret it. Thanks for this great video! greetings to NS.
That was some sunrise, beautiful. I rarely used any filters, CPL is in my bag and often gets used but the NDs that I have, are not much use. One of my NDs currently resides on Rannoch Moor, I lost it 2 years ago. 😂 I don't miss it.
I tried a Breakthrough Photography ND filter once. The thing that set it apart, was the way the water/rain droplets wiped off so cleanly and easily. It was pretty sexy!
I like my Freewell magnetic filters. I mainly use their cpl filter. They also make CPL ND filters, which are nice. No doubling up filters to get extra long exposures with polarization. They don't have vignetting or colour cast.
I agree with you about the filters, for all the reasons you outlined. A CPL is pretty much grafted onto my lens. Thankfully, almost all my lenses are 77mm so I just need the one CPL. I do use NiSi ND filters, but rarely stronger than 6 stops. I pair the 3-stop or 6-stop with a CPL when I use an ND at all. P.S. - there are variances in color cast between brands, That's why I switched from Lee square filters (very blue) to NiSi (neutral). I understand NiSi make magnetic filters now. So, get in touch, NiSi. 😉😂
Very helpful video Thanks.... But, I must confess that many years ago the marketers convinced me of the need to "protect" my lens with a UV filter....and since dropping sh*t is my second hobby, I have obeyed them. I think I shall remove the UV and attach the CPL.
Nice marching. A very good vid with real information. I played with ND filters once. I did stop the water and got some blur and it was a fun day. The Polarizer is very old school. As a kid seeing photos where the clouds were black made a big impression on me. I have some old time pics on the wall.
Great video on the filters for me, Gavin. I don't see how you can stay so calm when you get the light just right. I get so excited ,I forget things. Lol
I started watching your video's a few weeks ago and so far I've really enjoyed watching them. Yes it's probably me that has been watching most of your back catalogue of video's. I'm a poor bus driver from the UK so don't have a lot of money to spend on the best gear. In fact I stopped doing much in the way of photography years ago. I used to use 35mm film. My first venture into digital was a 2mp Kodak point and shoot then moved on to a Canon 350D when they first came out. I actually did a few wedding shoots with that camera. I sort of lost interest after that and didn't bother keeping up to date with all of the gear. Last year I decided I wanted to get back into it and bought a 90D and the Sony ZV-E10. My thought was I could use the Canon for the photography and main topic video shots and the Sony would be used for B roll and back up video. I've still not really done much with either camera but I am really getting the desire to get out there again. I know mirrorless is really the way to go but I couldn't afford the cost of a good mirrorless so a good DSLR was the next best option for me. I love watching your video's and I'm so envious of your landscapes out there in Canada. I love the collaborations you've done with some of the other guys out there and have learned quite a bit about modern photography from you guys. Keep up the good work Gavin
Glad you've found a few places to photograph here. ;) Figured it was a CPL when the video started, and I agree. Edit to add: New segment? Hardcastle's HARD Truths!
You make fun and good videos. I have shot since 1980, both for my own amusement and for money, and I never used filters much, except UV-filters for protection that I have on all my lenses as a standard. I often shot against the light and then I just unscrew the UV-filter before and I know I have a clean front lens. That was also very convenient at an event I shot when a dog licked the front of the lens with its drooly tongue , I just screwed the UV-filter off and continue to shot until I could clean the UV-filter. As for NDs, you can just shot multiple shots if you need a longer exposure time. So if you only can hit 1 second but want 10 seconds, then do ten 1 second exposures and average them in Photoshop. Also much of the CPL effect (though maybe not all) can be achieved with Clarity and Dehaze in Lightroom as well as Dodge/Burn similar techniques (where the gradients in Lightroom works really well for that since they allow only highlight adjustments for example if that is what one wants to dampen at a particular spot). I just spent a whole one year long project where I've done a large amount of landscapes. I have carried both CPL and ND filters with me all the time and used them exactly 0 times.
Dude - you so totally convinced me to go out and buy a rad filter kit so I can take boss pics like you! Cheers, mate! Any other keen dope I should acquire? I mean if I can afford it after I buy a crate of fried pork skins… 😂😂😂. For real - great videos, both photography and funny.
I have used CPL and ND filters for years but I just ordered a graduated ND today. And now I’m even more interested in using it. I think it will be fun to give it a try. And I enjoy trying to get an effect outside of editing software like we use to do with film.
I do the same as you with my CPL for years Gavin. You´re in the right position on this. if you get up early from bed and take photography in a serious way, you don´t need any nd filter!
Lots of #truestories in this one !! Polarizer is an essential for sure !! Not sure about all the pro level 10 stops being the same !! My Lee Colour cast is a curse 🤯
Truly informative money saving content today old sauce. :) At xmas I (like many other plebs) tend to find myself getting a bit trigger happy with credit card purchases and online shopping carts, so having you reinforce the idea that I should really look at my use case first is helpful. When I consider my Wacom 32 was one such purchase and it sat on my desk unmolested for the better part of a year, well… I need these types of video in my life. When is the roof video coming out? Hardcastle Towers is equally a great channel.
@@fototripper your audience impatiently awaits, Gavin… but that’s where your magic is… We will indeed wait. This is seriously the best photo channel on the tube. Great stuff!
If I may say... If your lens is that of a kit lens value, add as many lens filters as your heart desires ...if on the other hand, your shooting through a $1000.00+ lens, don't waste your money as the front element of your lens is 1000x better (as is the lens - no doubt) and by adding a $100.00 filter, you're degrading the front element of your lens. I had a difficult time believing this at first but practice became proof!
Yeah, I use CPL a lot as well, and various grades of ND (3, 6, and 10 stop). That's the H&Y K-series filter, so the CPL is drop-in, and the NDs are magnetic. They now produce circular filters that are magnetic as well. Whichever shape you go for, magnetic filters make life so much easier, and I haven't touched my screw on filters for years.
Gavin, you're three years late on this video. I went out and bought myself WAY too much in the way of filters... and now I only use my CPL... oh, and sometimes a Clear Night filter that I'm not sure if actually does anything. Dangit!
I totally agree!!. I have the Lee system and i am using ND's for long exposure... However my new Lee CP keeps unscrewing itself from the holder!. I dropped it on the beach the other day. Maybe i should talk to Lee customer service..... Great and interesting video!!
When looking at it from the perspective of using certain lenses such as Sigma 14mm 1.8 or even Rokinon 2.8 the square filter and its socket are indispensable for both CLP and ND. I have to confess that I need a CPL and there I have caught my fingers with the 14mm 1.8 because the expense is unfailingly double to cover all my lenses. I have to say also that sometimes I tend to choose as a priority some compositions with so much difference in latitude (Dynamic Range) in the shot that a graduated 4stops would not be bad either despite the almost 12 steps of latitude of my D850 (flat settings at 50iso)...
I agree. I think you buy into a filter system more than a specific filter. Once you get to NISI or LEE...they are all top quality. Just...do they make the adapters/rings you need and have a wide variety of filters for whatever you are trying to achieve and do they stand behind the product they sell. Cheers!
I too use only one filter and that is a hoya CPL one particular Hoya cpli use and it is fantastic I have tried k&f it's a piece of crap matter of fact it never even changed one thing and I do use another filter besides a 10-stop and that is my IR I have a hoya IR 72 and I'm still working to figure out how to use the 65 because that one's supposed to show all the leaves and gold and so far I haven't figured out how to get that to work so that's still in the back burner for now and I also have one square polarizer from ice which does pretty good But my go-to and always will be filtered is the Hoya CPL and this is a very dark one and it is flawless
I've being using the same square filter systems for way too long. Slow, cumbersome and irritating as heck. I stopped using grads, because I agree, you can do a much better job with a computer which made life a little easier. CPLs are fine, but have a stronger color cast than linear polarizers and aren't needed with mirrorless cameras. Recently I got 2 magnetic filters, a linear polarizer, (LPL) and a dark, 6 stop ND CPL. Rarely need more than six stops, but they can be stacked to create a 8-11 stop variable ND. Fits easily in a pocket, pops on and off, game changer. Ok, so I'm still carrying 2x as many filters as you are. I can live with it.
I have always enjoyed PL, and “recently” CPL, filters and often just leave the filter on during my day’s shooting. Of course the day has to be decently bright. Just remember, and unsure if this was mentioned, your direction relative to the Sun is critical in gaining the full polarizing effect. When not using a CPL is use a CL filter - unsure why but just an old habit! Thanks.
I was enjoying some luscious chocolate while watching this and decided to give a thumbs-up. Problem is, I now have a ugly great thumbprint on my CPL. Would you do another video on how to clean chocolate-based thumbprints off filters, lenses, viewfinder, monitor, etc? Or gerrin touch .....
You are kinda the reason I haven't bought the square filters. The other reason is that in a few locations I've seen 400+ euros of shattered filters on the ground. I 100% know my butterfingers would smash them really very quickly considering I drop my circular one pretty much every time I use them!
Ouch, I'm just waiting for the delivery of ND filters for my wide angle lens... Actually I started playing with those filters, for shore scenes with a lot of light. Don't you use other ND filters for long exposures? OK, I do agree with the crazy marketing creating false needs of such accessories. I have an ok camera + lenses, not professional, and to be honest, I haven't been around of all the settings and possibilities offered. So playing more with my current setup + CPL makes a lot of sense. So it makes sense to resist to all crazy novelties ;) Next time for me then it seems ! Thanks for the honest video Gavin :)
I completely agree Gavin, once you get to a 10 stop without the colour fringing and vignetting as they have all achieved many moons ago now..... all they can really do now is try and come up with pointless gimmicky things like little dials that turn a gear that turns the polarizer, crap like that. This reminds me of Christmas 1994 when i opened a present and it was 'The Best Rock Album in the World...EVER!!' CD... then a few months later my brother got 'The Best Rock Album in the World EVER 2!!!'.... A world full of contradiction and confusion ha ha. Great Video mate hope your new home is coming along nicely, all the best.
From my film days I have a butt load of correction and effect filters. Now, I shoot digital raw, so I can do a lot of PP corrections. I shoot landscapes, wildlife, macro, architectural, and some street (sans identifiable people). I currently only use Polarizers (in 3 strengths), variable ND, and regular ND filters in various strengths so I can stack them or use with a polarizer to get to the exposure setting I want. Since to the Canon R system I have been able to use drop-in filters on my bulbous super wide lenses - a good improvement.
Thanks Gavin ---- you have just stopped me spending £100 on some magnetic filters :) Filter Companies should not be surprised by your 'Hard Truth' , the clue is in your name.
I once made the same comment about filters on another RU-vid landscape photographer’s channel, and I got absolutely flamed by angry subscribers who’d clearly wasted a fortune on ND grads.
How about a livestream where you and Amanda would talk with your fans, you could critique your fans photos, tell funny stories that didn't make it to videos, take questions from audience.. I think it would help a lot with the money for the roof😏 I cannot really superchat, but there may be others who would be able to do so... I would love to see you two doing livestream. If you are up to it, announce it very early, a week before and repeat every day before the stream... I am pretty sure it would help with RU-vid algorhytm too 😊
First of all.. Nice informative video Gavin. Personally I ended up with NISI screwon filters. They are just fantastic. I had an issue with 82mm CPL filter and contacted them . They gave me a new one right there and then. Professional customer service
Basically I agree with you but for me CPL and ND 6 filter are adequate. If not dark enough I use both filters on top of each other and that gives you approx. 8 stops.
When I first started, I fell into the filter buying sink hole, and have quite a few, all gathering dust apart from my polarising and Lee big stoppers (10 and 15 stops)
Good advice. I have been doing professional landscape photography for 5+ years now. I use the CPL quite a bit, and use ND's on maybe on 1% of images, if that. I did liked the "smooth water" app on my old Sony A7R ii, which allowed me to ditch the ND almost all together, and with no color cast issues, but they dropped the apps option on the newer camera additions. I store my lenses with the CPL on - that is my default mode....
I could not agree more about filters spot on. I have used the same cpl a rather cheap for over 13 years with no problem, I'd buy the same again. After seeing the light (as one does) in your vid I think I'll need to re edit one of my Turnberry shots it was so red I toned it down no one would believe it was real.
I agree with what you say from a practical perspective, and it may some form of self-sadism on my part, but I actually enjoy using filters even though I know I can do it in Photoshop. I love the act of making the image out in the field as that is where I get to relax and be in the moment and be away from a screen. There is something nice about seeing what you create on the back of the screen, even though I will be sticking into Lightroom later on. Good luck with the Church roof, my own renovation project is costing so much I may as well of bought the entire Lee filter range, it would have been the same value for money :-)
Filters help balance exposure why merge layers when you know what Ur doing. You don't have to most of the time I get in one shot. Love my filters I don't shoot at f22 to slow water down.. because I use ND lfilters i love my grad ND also to eliminate excessive photo shop manipulation.... that's my opinion... I find it gives my images a more professional look straight out of camera..
with the nd1000 i use the liveview of the camera with a magnetic viewfinder on it and do manually the focus at 100% (auto-iso when focusing and back to normal for the picture).. never i have to play on/off with the filter.. and i love the 5-8 minutes results (iso32/f16)..
Having blown hundreds of pounds on a 150mm square system with ND grads of all kinds and for which I had to buy a larger bag to accommodate, I realised it hardly ever got used so just sold it all on eBay. I now have a few polarisers (can’t be bothered with step rings) and a couple of circular ND filters which rarely get used but take up no space. I do sometimes wish I had kept the 150 square polariser as I would often not bother attaching it, just hold it in front of the lens. I also noticed the ND filters would vignette noticeably on very wide angle lenses as they were tinted glass so at the edges there was more thickness for the light to pass through, coated glass is much better for this.
I agree about the general useless nature of ND filters… however… a 6-stop is quite nice for a sunset in the golden hour, because the light has dimmed enough that 6-stop will do fine… I’d usually take such a photo including water, where the ND smoothies the water somewhat - 4-8 seconds exposure is great for this, as the water doesn’t completely lose all wave-textures
When you said using a 10 stop ND filter was like polishing a turd I had a religious moment and said 'Amen brother.' The irony is we could all do with a bit of turd polishing on our landscape photography adventures.
Beautiful photo and conditions for your shot at the beginning Kevin. I have a CPL on all 6 of my lenses and I wouldn't be without them. I do use K&Fconcept square filter system and have a 4 stop soft grad filter on most occasions when shooting at sunrise or sunset for the clouds. I also have a 4, 6 and 10 stop ND filters. Look forward to seeing your next video. Regards Steve, UK.
Interesting food for thought. I have bought only a few filters but find I end up only using the cpl and 10 stop. so interesting. My nd3 grad busted when I fell hiking. I never used it. One filter i find interesting is the reverse grad filter. I used it at Moraine Lk and give me some interesting pink effects.
