OK, what am I doing wrong...?
Mar 8, 2015 04:26:30 #
Your ND isn't a piece of crap. The "X" you see is just how it goes when you twist them over to their max level. Even expensive ones will do this if twisted to their max level.
That doesn't make them crap no matter how many times it gets parroted...it just means you learn to stop just before that point.
To get silky water, you need to have an exposure that gets to the "many seconds" range so under these "very bright" conditions, you are already putting yourself behind the 8-ball.
It looks like from the Sunny 16 conditions you needed to lose about 10 stops of light just to get into the water-smearing ballpark.
Not sure what value your ND was but you need to back it off to get rid of the X pattern, and also it would be better to do this exercise in lower light like early morning or later on at sunset so that you can lose some stops of light naturally right off of the bat.
That doesn't make them crap no matter how many times it gets parroted...it just means you learn to stop just before that point.
To get silky water, you need to have an exposure that gets to the "many seconds" range so under these "very bright" conditions, you are already putting yourself behind the 8-ball.
It looks like from the Sunny 16 conditions you needed to lose about 10 stops of light just to get into the water-smearing ballpark.
Not sure what value your ND was but you need to back it off to get rid of the X pattern, and also it would be better to do this exercise in lower light like early morning or later on at sunset so that you can lose some stops of light naturally right off of the bat.
Mar 8, 2015 10:46:33 #
lighthouse
Loc: No Fixed Abode
SX2002 wrote:
I suggest you P**s off if you have nothing constru... (show quote)
You asked what you got wrong - and I told you.
What I have added to this discussion, time and time again, whenever it comes up, is very constructive.
Some people just never bother to listen, and then come whining here, wondering what went wrong.
That is why I bothered to reply to your post.
In the hope that someone else will read it, and save themselves some money, and achieve the same end a more reliable, educated way.
I obviously can help - but I can only lead a horse to water, I cannot make it drink.
Mar 8, 2015 11:33:45 #
fuminous wrote:
My experience with variable ND filters isn't much ... (show quote)
And the OPs photos look exactly like what one would expect if stacking two polarizers perpendicular to each other. That was my first thought when I saw the post, now I know why. I am glad I've never forked out a lot of money for one, looks like it would take some real fiddling to use it properly.
Mar 8, 2015 12:02:06 #
SX2002 wrote:
Jeez, two morons for the one post...a new Hog record....
Careful with the personal attacks, mate. I am told the admins on this site have enough influence in Ozzieland to have your favorite ewe taken away.
Mar 8, 2015 16:27:37 #
I do not have a solution to your problem but I did notice that your Nikon D7100 firmware needs updating to ver 1.02
Mar 8, 2015 20:52:48 #
Some snarky remarks here, I'll try not to be that way.
1. Your overexposure is basically due to the ND not being near enough for the conditions you were in (ISO, aperture, bright sun, long exposure)
2. The X pattern from a variable ND is common. You have to back that off but if your exposure is still too "hot" you will be stuck until the conditions change (sunset, sunrise).
3. Alternatively you can set your focus, and stack standard ND filters up to 10X and try to adjust that way (stop down, lowest ISO) and see how long you can keep that shutter open. About 10 seconds is the minimum to see any good effect, and ideally up to a minute.
Good luck!
1. Your overexposure is basically due to the ND not being near enough for the conditions you were in (ISO, aperture, bright sun, long exposure)
2. The X pattern from a variable ND is common. You have to back that off but if your exposure is still too "hot" you will be stuck until the conditions change (sunset, sunrise).
3. Alternatively you can set your focus, and stack standard ND filters up to 10X and try to adjust that way (stop down, lowest ISO) and see how long you can keep that shutter open. About 10 seconds is the minimum to see any good effect, and ideally up to a minute.
Good luck!
Mar 23, 2015 06:01:46 #
Sorry, but I would have to agree with some of the others that your ND filter is of extreme poor quality. You should invest in a non-variable ND400 from a reputable company. I use a Hoya PRO and get consistently good results. It's not the best filter available but certainly up to the task and very affordable.
I would also concur that your metering is way off as well.
I would also concur that your metering is way off as well.
Mar 23, 2015 06:13:03 #
And I might add you should heed the sound advice of "lighthouse". All one needs to do is compare your results to his.
Mar 23, 2015 09:50:37 #
SX2002 wrote:
My first try at something I thought would be fairly easy...
These were taken with a variable ND filter set at its darkest level.
My aim was to get the "smoky" water effect.
These are just a few examples from several I took, all failures..!
How do you take this type of pic..?
Cheers,
Ron.
These were taken with a variable ND filter set at its darkest level.
My aim was to get the "smoky" water effect.
These are just a few examples from several I took, all failures..!
How do you take this type of pic..?
Cheers,
Ron.
The problem just may not be any of the above. It may just be the subject. Waves don't last long enough to get the soft effect you were after. Unless ther are very large and unless there is a lot of off shore wind the attempt is very difficult to capture. A waterfall is easier because it it a much longer event.
Mar 23, 2015 11:17:12 #
boberic wrote:
The problem just may not be any of the above. It may just be the subject. Waves don't last long enough to get the soft effect you were after. Unless ther are very large and unless there is a lot of off shore wind the attempt is very difficult to capture. A waterfall is easier because it it a much longer event.
The point of the ND filter is to allow the longer event to happen...so keeping it open 10 sec will give that misty effect he is after. But he needs to
a. stop down to small aperture
b. set ISO to slowest possible (50 is great if the camera will do it)
c. use ND in daylight to get the exposure long enough to make misty waves
I still think the better alternative is to wait until dusk and then the ND filter can be used "sparingly".
Mar 23, 2015 13:11:42 #
photoshack wrote:
The point of the ND filter is to allow the longer event to happen...so keeping it open 10 sec will give that misty effect he is after. But he needs to
a. stop down to small aperture
b. set ISO to slowest possible (50 is great if the camera will do it)
c. use ND in daylight to get the exposure long enough to make misty waves
I still think the better alternative is to wait until dusk and then the ND filter can be used "sparingly".
a. stop down to small aperture
b. set ISO to slowest possible (50 is great if the camera will do it)
c. use ND in daylight to get the exposure long enough to make misty waves
I still think the better alternative is to wait until dusk and then the ND filter can be used "sparingly".
Sounds good as far as it goes but a 10 second exposure for a 2 second event still won't give the effect wanted
Mar 23, 2015 13:22:12 #
boberic wrote:
Sounds good as far as it goes but a 10 second exposure for a 2 second event still won't give the effect wanted
Not sure I follow you: waves don't stop. The longer you make the exposure, the more misty/milky the water. It is no different that shooting a waterfall. Ideally the waves have lots of "head" to them for the maximum foggy look.
Mar 23, 2015 20:00:18 #
SX2002 wrote:
Jeez, two morons for the one post...a new Hog record....
Nah, happens frequently. Especially in threads that Lighthouse joins. Although able to take some nice images evidently flunked kindergarten.
Mar 23, 2015 20:51:45 #
Mar 24, 2015 11:27:55 #
photoshack wrote:
Perhaps closing the thread makes sense.
I just unwatch threads that go awry like this. Bye all.
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