Newbie ask using ND filter with polarizer

External Since: Jan 29, 2005 Posts: 6

Hi, I'm planning to go to Patagonia and Chile very soon and I'll have
a lots of mountains pic and volcanoes to take, a lot in deserted dusty
area burned by the sun in front plan with blue sky and snowcaped in
the distance. I see that my mountains pics of precedent trips t other
places are too often washed out in the sky area, and I want to get rid
of this problem. ND filter or split ND filter seems to be the answer,
but I want to know, can I use a ND filter stacked over a polariser or
it's gonna be too dark and look irreal? I always use a warming (81a)
polariser in my pic and I like the look of it. It works preety well to
me except for mountains pic. So will I get too dark skies ? I like it
very dark already although some time it's too dark. Any help ? Also, I
use kodak or fuji 400 because I have only one body and I use it with
my 170-500 Sigma with shoulder stock when I see wildlife. So as you
problably know, 400 saturate more colors.

And finally, would I be better with a split D or full ND ? I won't
bring a tripod, too heavy for a month of backpackig.

Thanks

Michel

External Since: Nov 23, 2004 Posts: 20

"michel" <medgarevers.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bb334b60.0501290650.1a214550@posting.google.com...

> ND filter or split ND filter seems to be the answer,

You problem is the range of brightness in the scene is more than the film
can handle.

The split filter will help because it can reduce the light reaching the film
from the brighter part of the image, making the difference in brightness
something the film is better able to handle.

A full ND filter won't help - it will simply darken the entire image,
causing a compensation in exposure, and you get the same troublesome range
of brightness in the final image.

So try a split ND filter, buy a roll or 2 of unimportant film and PRACTICE
using the split filter before you go.

> but I want to know, can I use a ND filter stacked over a polariser or
> it's gonna be too dark and look irreal?

You can stack them, but be careful. If you set the split filter first,
rotating the polarizer may ruin your split ND alignment. PRACTICE before
you go - make the trial-and-error mistakes at home, not in those places you
may never see again.

> I always use a warming (81a)
> polariser in my pic and I like the look of it. It works preety well to
> me except for mountains pic. So will I get too dark skies ? I like it
> very dark already although some time it's too dark. Any help ?

The polarizer's effect changes with altitude. I have photos at sea level to
3000 ft (1000 m) that have very pleasant polarized skies. But I also have
shots at 9000 ft (3000 m) that have skies nearly black and quite
unpleasant - ruined the pictures. You can see it thru the viewfinder - if
it looks too dark to your eye thru the viewfinder, it will be too dark on
the film.

> I won't bring a tripod, too heavy for a month of backpackig.

I don't carry a tripod, either - I'm partially disabled and minimize the
amount of stuff in my packpack because of it. But when I head into the
wilderness, I replace my cane with a monopod, a good one (Bogen). It serves
as a cane or walking stick, and does wonders for the sharpness of telephoto
shots. I highly recommend it.

Bob in Las Vegas