2 questions
Dec 8, 2012 10:42:55 #
I have reached the point where I know enough, and have enough stuff, to take really bad pictures. I do have a couple of questions. One, what does a neutral density filter do that the camera's exposure compensation won't do? The other is white balance, indoor, no flash. Of course I would not do this with a 500w halogen work light, but how about a custom white balance setting using the light source? Point the camera at the fluorescents or incandescent bulbs? I've played around with this and it seems to work, so why haven't I heard about this before? I used a 35mm prime lens on my D5000.
Dec 8, 2012 11:01:08 #
FredCM wrote:
I have reached the point where I know enough, and ... (show quote)
"An ND filter is to a camera lens what a pair of sunglasses is to a human. (Peter Hill, 2010.)"
http://www.redbubble.com/people/peterh111/journal/4421304-the-ultimate-guide-to-neutral-density-filters
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-grads.shtml
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/neutral-density-filters.htm
And some of many articles about custom white balance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY5dS1z0WuE
http://www.lightstalking.com/white-balance
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/whitebalance.htm
http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/2010/04/05/white-balance-for-better-color-in-your-photographs/
http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/2010/04/06/white-balance-get-accurate-color-using-a-gray-card/
http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/2010/04/07/white-balance-tools/
Dec 8, 2012 11:07:45 #
FredCM wrote:
I have reached the point where I know enough, and ... (show quote)
In a nutshell: a neutral density filter just limits the amount of light available for the exposure. Personally, I don't use them. There's nothing they can do that I can't do by timing the light. The indoor white balancing procedure you describe is covered in my camera manual-- and I would wager that it is covered in any camera manual with that capability.
Dec 8, 2012 17:07:28 #
I thought I had the manual memorized, you made me look. Nope, Step 1: Light a reference object.
Dec 8, 2012 17:13:15 #
Not questioning graduated density filters. Simple ND filters less than 4 stops, what do they do that the camera's exposure compensation can not do?
Dec 9, 2012 06:37:42 #
FredCM wrote:
Not questioning graduated density filters. Simple ND filters less than 4 stops, what do they do that the camera's exposure compensation can not do?
I use and need them quite often in this very situation at our beach house... Lets say you have a beach scene, bright sunny cloudless morning, shooting into the sun, you want great DOF, you stop the lens down, say F16, F22 and want to Blurrrrr the waves or a surfer or both, you slow your shutter speed to 1/4-1 second (example) but you're still getting an over exposed reading, blown out highlights etc., you lower the ISO to say 100, still blown out or to much light for what you are trying to accomplish, DOF & Blur, lastly you throw on maybe a 3 stop ND filter(or greater)...pretty sure you'll get your shot,
Dec 9, 2012 08:46:26 #
As for white balance, I use the Expodisc all the time. If you search these discussions, you will see plenty on this topic. If you are interested, I can explain why I think Expodisc is the best method, at least for me.
Dec 9, 2012 11:16:17 #
FredCM wrote:
Not questioning graduated density filters. Simple ND filters less than 4 stops, what do they do that the camera's exposure compensation can not do?
Compensate the exposure value more than 2.
Dec 9, 2012 11:42:11 #
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
quote=FredCM I have reached the point where I kno... (show quote)
Unless you are outside shooting waterfalls or want to do a more dramatic sunrise or sunset ND filters can add a lot. White balance shoot in raw and save yourself some grieve, if you get it wrong you can correct it at least.
Dec 9, 2012 11:42:11 #
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
quote=FredCM I have reached the point where I kno... (show quote)
Unless you are outside shooting waterfalls or want to do a more dramatic sunrise or sunset ND filters can add a lot. White balance shoot in raw and save yourself some grieve, if you get it wrong you can correct it at least.
Dec 9, 2012 11:51:15 #
peggyjom wrote:
White balance shoot in raw and save yourself some grieve, if you get it wrong you can correct it at least.
Raw and color balance are two different matters. You cannot adjust color balance without a frame of reference and this has absolutely nothing to do with whether you shoot raw, jpg, tiff, or the moon. If you do not have an objective target, then you can subjectively adjust it to anything you wish.
Adjusting color balance accomplishes two things. One, it gives you a picture whose colors are close to the those of the original scene. Two, it reduces color casts.
Dec 9, 2012 12:00:00 #
abc1234 wrote:
Raw and color balance are two different matters. You cannot adjust color balance without a frame of reference and this has absolutely nothing to do with whether you shoot raw, jpg, tiff, or the moon. If you do not have an objective target, then you can subjectively adjust it to anything you wish.
Adjusting color balance accomplishes two things. One, it gives you a picture whose colors are close to the those of the original scene. Two, it reduces color casts.
Raw and color balance are two different matters. You cannot adjust color balance without a frame of reference and this has absolutely nothing to do with whether you shoot raw, jpg, tiff, or the moon. If you do not have an objective target, then you can subjectively adjust it to anything you wish.
Adjusting color balance accomplishes two things. One, it gives you a picture whose colors are close to the those of the original scene. Two, it reduces color casts.
Two different matters but related through post processing.
When you shoot in RAW you can easily adjust white balance in post processing instead of having your camera do it. That makes it easy to try different white balances on the same RAW data and see which you like best.
When you shoot in jpeg your camera's computer makes the adjustments to the RAW data while making the jpeg file. It is locked into the jpeg data. Sure, you can fiddle with it afterwards but it isn't as good as having the RAW data to work with.
Dec 9, 2012 12:03:24 #
peggyjom wrote:
Unless you are outside shooting waterfalls or want to do a more dramatic sunrise or sunset ND filters can add a lot. White balance shoot in raw and save yourself some grieve, if you get it wrong you can correct it at least.
Unless you are outside shooting waterfalls or want to do a more dramatic sunrise or sunset ND filters can add a lot. White balance shoot in raw and save yourself some grieve, if you get it wrong you can correct it at least.
Did you mean "can't" or "don't" instead of "can"?
To answer the other question EV adjusts the exposure you make of the light entering the camera lens. An ND filter reduces the light entering the lens. With the ND filter you can get the same exposure at a slower shutter speed. That is why people like to use them on water...it gives the flowing effect.
Dec 9, 2012 16:14:17 #
Okay, I did some further reading and now I feel like a bonehead. It's call "Exposure Compensation" because it affects the exposure, not the way the camera processes the image, the EXPOSURE, speed and f-stop and maybe ISO. Manual doesn't come out and just say that, nooooooo, that must be a secret.
White balance can be affected by multiple light sources, and the various fluorescent bulbs in a venue can have slightly different color temperatures. So keying off one light fixture may/may not be valid for white balance.
Like I said initially, I know enough to take bad pictures.
White balance can be affected by multiple light sources, and the various fluorescent bulbs in a venue can have slightly different color temperatures. So keying off one light fixture may/may not be valid for white balance.
Like I said initially, I know enough to take bad pictures.
Dec 9, 2012 17:08:23 #
MtnMan wrote:
quote=peggyjom br Unless you are outside shootin... (show quote)
I love my ND filters I use them often outdoors while shooting waterfalls and also on lakes. I wanted to make sure the original poster knew that you can have a room full of photographers and more than likely the first few items out of the back pack are relatively the same, then you start to break off into groups. Portrait, landscape, wildlife, macro once you enter our true interest tools add more value to one than the other.
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