Filters for Long Exposure Seascape Photography

[@roberttangen2942]

I’m just old school enough, 68 yrs old, to want to get as good as I can in camera. Too many people depend on PhotoShop to make them photographers. For me, at least, half the fun is making a great image in the field. I have a love/hate relationship with my computer and the less time I sit at my computer the better I like it.

[@PMCN53]

I agree Brendan, ND filters are a great tool and you also use multi exposures in combination. The options are endless and only restricted by your imagination. Great session for newbies to the wonderful world of filters. Cheers!

[@raylander6329]

Brendan, you take the best pictures!!! I watch your videos for many years and when you show the image, wow!!! beautiful; keep it up, I always learn something; thank you

[@classicmamma8632]

Thank you Brendan! I learned a lot from this video, and the side by side examples made everything so clear and easy to understand. Filters are now on my wish list!

[@lindahenderson2113]

Thank you, Brendan. This video took a lot of time and effort with all of the examples and pictures. But, I appreciate the thoroughness of the lesson. I look forward to the next one and getting back to the Milky Way processing lesson (I think, unless I missed it).

[@BrendanvanSon]

The next astro video should be out in October! Thanks for watching!!

[@jrwilkinson3391]

I switched from the 100mm square & rectangular filter system to Nisi’s round magnetic filter system. It’s so much smaller & easy to swap filters. The filters are 82mm so I’ve installed magnetic stepup rings on all my lenses. Unfortunately this system does not work with graduated ND filters (or lens hoods). But I mainly use the CPL & 6 or 10 stop ND round filters. I still pack the much larger filter system but find the compact quick-change magnetic system in my camera bag. After watching this, I’ll carry a 3-stop grad filter & hold it in front of the lens when needed.

[@shanekrajic7167]

My photography stepped up heaps when I got my NiSi filters, absolutely brilliant images. I really enjoy long exposure, and the images that result.

[@lifefootsteps7506]

Im cutting weight on my gear, got set of Lee filters and that adds some bulk, weight, fluff and any mistake it’s baked in. Blending gives you more time to refine shot. Now I’m using Kase filters and their magnetic round filters are great, you can stack nd and polarised in seconds. Little pouch and with biggest size and cheap step up rings you ready to go. Shame lee seats in cupboard

[@sharronferreira6420]

Thanks Brendan, something I need to put on my wish list - a set of filters, and the square/ drop-in system, as apposed to the screw-in, has always made sense to me. Thanks for making this vlog an educational one, although all of them are, I’ve been looking forward to another one of these. 😃 Just what I need to get my motivation going 😉🙃😊.

[@RamonBrito]

Loving the flamingo mug. Great video thank you for sharing your inputs

[@aaareis12]

Some of the places you should visit here in Portugal are Gerês, Azores and Madeira. Keep the great work!

[@derbagger22]

My pictures from the Azores taken on my original OnePlus 1 phone still leave me in awe...

[@BJV-Video]

Hey Brendan excellent video, thanks for sharing

[@drewbert28]

Appreciate all your insight! Looking forward to hearing/seeing more on the polarizer.

[@scottman895]

I've been considering if I should get some filters to use with my camera. I haven't decided yet, but I do like that you do compare each photo with the filters vs no filter to show the difference.

[@mikefrith1590]

Liked the video. As with you I am a NISI user. Here on the inland side of Vancouver Island we get some marvelous sunrises but the mountainous mainland coast can make using a reverse ND a problem. Preferring not to blend exposures but tired of dealing with sunspots I have added a piece of cardboard cut to the size of my filter holder. I will take two shots both at the same exposure, first w/o the cardboard then with the cardboard covering the sun to the horizon line and blend the two. Sunspot problem eliminated

[@MtnBikerNZ]

I understand your observations about GNDs with respect to screw-on mounting, but if bracketing & blending in post is your thing then circular magnetic filters are very convenient. All you need is an adaptor ring permanently screwed on to each lens, as you already have for your square filters. So long as you have the circular filters at the size of your largest lens thread it is a simple task to move them from one lens to another. This makes for a very small filter kit. Of course any image needing a graduated treatment, reverse or standard, will have to be done in post using bracketed shots. However, this also has some advantages, like being more forgiving when objects such as mountains, sea stacks and trees are breaking the horizon line. Anyway, another good video. Thank you! 👍

[@johnvanderploeg]

Hi Brendan great video! I wanted to mention a couple of other points as well. I find grad ND's are especially useful for seascape photography. Even more so if you are shooting into the sun while shooting seascapes. If you don't use a grad nd you are forced to bracket shots for the sky in between the action of the waves (if they are part of your foreground interest). This leads to constant fiddling with your camera while you are trying to keep your eye on the sea and avoid any potential rogue waves that may damage your gear. Furthermore, you may be missing the best light in the sky while shooting the waves/foreground. If you want to maximize the benefit of exposure blending in post, you really should make a complex selection of the sky and drop it into your foreground/wave frame, (if you use a gradient in PS you may as well use one on location). Depending on your horizon line, the amount of vegetation and your skill in PS, a sky drop may not look great, even if you know what you are doing. I think both methods (exposure blending and grad filters) have their place, but for all the naysayers seascape photography can DEFINITELY justify the use of grads!

[@MrPhotog4u]

It's more fun to get the best image in camera than sitting in front of a computer that's all I got, thanks for sharing........

[@francoisecamara3265]

Tjs for all you advice and Nice picture like allways

[@neklamp2431]

Very nice photos, very informative video!

[@earthcirconferencebyob1330]

the reverse grad nd give great result, thanks for sharing

[@craiggilder597]

Two thumbs up, great vid, about time some done this, filters have there place, and time in the field trying different things such as using different filters is better than spending wasted time in lightroom or photoshop, they have there place in the process of capturing an image, good example s what you showed , keep up the good work, like to see a vid using cpl filters with new filters or gnd filters

[@Rocking_J_Studio]

I learned photography shooting film so I still try to get as much correct in camera as I can to reduce my computer time. My eyes have suffered from years of computer use and I'd much rather prevent further damage as well as be able to do things like manually focusing. But that's just me. Your mileage may vary.

[@martinpaiva4994]

Thanks for the video ! Really helps me decide on my new system moving forward (for my new camera and lenses).

[@RoseKerin]

Thanks Impressive. I'm working with filters at the beach so your video is welcome.

[@SteveKleinheider]

Good lord...you are starting to transform into a werewolf! :)

[@sandracunningham3995]

This is so clever and time-effective.

[@sergioc.p.7845]

Brendan ... you can say whatever you want but... you take care of the pantones of you set, clothes and stuff. hahaha!!.. Take a look at this: - cap, table and beard: some kind of brown - t-shirt, coffee mug and blanket at the sofa: pink - sofa & filters case: gray - Office chair and mug coaster: yellow - light of your set and light at the main door: perfectly balance!! Well... you know how to do it man!! Good job!! ;-)

[@TaavP]

Does nisi have a filter kit for ultra wide like Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8? because of the front behemoth element, it's the same with the niukon and canon ultras too i think

[@bmrt1000]

nisifilters.com.au/?gclid=CjwKCAiA1L_xBRA2EiwAgcLKAzPWHix5PCEtG1nD0MVnj6CHzmkh_ucECTHUqd2D18N71jnqoo_2eBoCNrAQAvD_BwE

[@SteveP_2426]

I use circular ND filters but personally I have stopped using ND grads and blend instead mostly because I got fed up carting around the filter kit needed for the rectangular/square filters. ON1 Photo Raw blends bracket images them easily. Each to their own though Brendan. If you prefer using them then fine, many do.

[@timbliss8777]

Agree - 3 filters - 6 Stop, 3 or 4 Grad and Polarizer. Nice video!

[@jurajbenadik4049]

Nice video, Brendan, and I understand your point. If you use grads, square system is a must - but I must say, there are plenty of brands with screw on filters with step-down rings, so there is no need to buy circular filter for each lens. The future is now, old man! :)

[@phynx2006]

Great explanation and examples for using ND Filters 👍👍

[@Stryker2200]

Love my NISI system, great video!

[@carlosvanvegas]

Excellent ive found this very useful

[@boscomac2434]

Another great vid! 👍👍👍

[@sharonhaasbroek7464]

Thank you for this. Now I know what to buy first.

[@jawracing911]

I really appreciated this video. I’ve been thinking long and hard about a NiSi kit. I’m surprised there wasn’t a “mention me code for % off” though. 🥺

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

exactly the same filters I use (though not by Nisi - I use Lee and Formatt Hitech ones and a Haida CPL filter)

[@simonwilliams2109]

Thanks Brendan.

[@simonworger]

Love that last image with the reverse grad.

[@markheslington214]

Enjoyable video but the scene you picked to show the use of grads for seascape was (to me as a seascape photographer) a great example of a scene which doesn't suit grads. You were covering the cliffs/rocks with the grad so more processing would be needed to remove the effect from those areas. A good example of a scene which suits exposure blending far more. At the end of the day, whichever option you choose in this scenario more work is required in post.

[@tearsuncries]

I see you are in Portugal, and If you like those places, you should try photograph places like praia da ursa that is located at western point of continental europe, in cabo da roca. There are alot of great places for landscape photography in Sintra area, you would like it. Great work on your video contents, im subscribing. Keep up the great work.

[@noahhoch9915]

Ahhh the new apartment background!!!!!

[@Distinctly.Average]

Phew, the face fungus is getting sorted. Some excellent videos of late. Lovey to see some stunning locations.

[@henrikrosen]

Great video again! I have a question about the V6 filter system. I just got the Cokin Z-pro system but get vinjett if I go wider than 20 mm. How wide can you shoot with the Nisi V6 system?

[@NiSiFilters]

16mm no vignetting

[@1969bigbox]

As always great vlog but do they not sell razor blades in Portugal? lol ...

[@Valadhiel76]

Not gonna lie, Brendan ... you kinda look like Richard Dreyfus (Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind and/or Jaws) with that beard. Hehe. Interesting videos on the filters. I have filters, but have never really had the opportunity to try to use them. I did have a hard time telling the difference between the photos where you used the reverse grad filter versus the other filter. I would need to see a side-by-side I guess. Beautiful photos though.

[@keagandevilliers2832]

great video! nisi all the way!

[@CookedLight]

You stole my thunder when you remembered to mention the polariser 😂

[@beanmariocow8601]

Great vid as always

[@johnhillman2619]

Nice video, Brendan. Recently, I shot seascape sunsets with a similar filter setup (Breakthrough 6-stop ND and 2-stop hard GND). This resulted in THREE suns, each with varying luminosity and colour (white, yellow and red) - I am guessing due to the bouncing back and forth of the reflected sun amongst the lens and filters. Any ideas (apart from the conspiracy theories about Planet X and a hidden second sun ;-)? ) Could this have been rectified by framing the sun more centrally or something?

[@BrendanvanSon]

What camera body are you on? Sometimes you need to cover the eye piece because light pops through on long exposures? Otherwise, you need a gasket on the filter to stop the light from bouncing around.

[@johnhillman2619]

@@BrendanvanSon Thanks, Brendan. Canon 5D Mk III, 24-105mm f/4L. The ND has a gasket - and I covered the eyepiece. Maybe a gasket on the GND? I'm at my wits end - with several sunsets spoiled. The Breakthrough filters weren't cheap :-(

[@clanelliott0305]

many thanks for the education,

[@tjsinva]

Nice lesson! 👨‍🎓 Rock on!

[@paulhopkins8391]

Hi Brendan, when I bought my camera I bought the lees 100mm filter system. I bought the 3 stop ND Hard Edge Grad (because I am using a crop frame sensor) and the LEE's big stopper. My question is how much better is NISI and should I change the system?

[@adventuresofjandk]

Definitely not. Lee makes the best filters on the market

[@paulhopkins8391]

@@adventuresofjandk If this is the case, then how come photographers like Brendan Van Son and Thomas Heaton arn't using LEE's? I just wondering if your statement is an opinion or fact?

[@adventuresofjandk]

@@paulhopkins8391 Hi Paul. That is a great question. I am sure all they are all pretty comparable but if you surveyed the majority of professional landscape photographers they would be Lee filter users. KZbinrs usually use whatever brand sends them free filters so they can not only make money of the video and views but also from affiliate links. This is the reason I never trust KZbinrs when it comes to gear.

[@adventuresofjandk]

And this is coming from someone that doesn’t even own Lee filters as they are too e expensive for me. 😂. I will take yours though if you move to another brand.

[@Joel4JC]

@@paulhopkins8391 In this video, kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqenXnaBhciYnZI, Thomas Heaton switch from Nisi to Lee, if fact he claims Lee are better. Both Lee and Nisi are top of the line filters. I'm not sure one is better than the other, it probably boils down to a matter of preference and what you are comfortable using.

[@dennyhartanto2810]

brendan ,after settle homebase i think u need settle beard alsooo maybe?

[@YantoKiernz]

8.48 the sky has potential red burning after the sun goes down or in blue hour. Didn't it happen?

[@gorkhaliram9654]

Love and respect from Nepal .....🙏❤️❤️

[@TheReerules]

Which ND filter should buy first if you want to start with ND filters and can only buy one

[@BrendanvanSon]

Probably a 6-stop ND.

[@TheReerules]

Thanks for reply

[@twotone3070]

"Looks like I'm not alone, footsteps" ...... "Hey bear"

[@BrendanvanSon]

Hahahaha

[@R.Hogarth]

Everybody is eventually going to find what works best for them, and since our minds don't all think the same way, different people will use different techniques to achieve similar goals. I tend to like to do part of it with filters and part it in post. I will shoot the image without a filter & expose for the dark area, then I will put on a solid (screw on) ND and expose for the sky and then blend the 2 images in post. Why? Is it because I have some great visionary insight that BvS doesn't? Oh heck no! Far from it. I just know that anything that I do in post is non-destructive if (when) I mess up, I can get back to my original image(s) and start over. My concern is that if I used a GND and decide after seeing it on the computer that I don't like it, then that's too bad. That is the way that the image was captured and although I might be able to minimize the effect that I am not liking, it is permanent and to some degree will always be there. I like having the ability to correct my mistakes.

[@pablogonzalez8304]

Better to slide then to screw does that sound a bit ... Man your beard sure grows fast. I can not believe you are doubting the capabilities of your Land Rover. I would like to see some over landing that would be great.

[@eduardomachado489]

Was Glyn there? 😄

[@backpacker3421]

Not only are square filters easier to swap between lenses, they are easier when you are using the same lens and want to change filter setups. PLUS, no vignetting ever. PLUS, square filters allow you to select where in the frame the graduation starts and stops. PLUS, you only need to buy one adapter set and one of each filter, so you can afford MUCH higher quality filters for the same $$.

[@backpacker3421]

I have a couple sets of round filters, but I only take them backpacking, because they take up so much less space than my square filter bag.

[@nigelwest3430]

Your Land Rover is MORE than capable of driving along a sandy road.............I used to climb 40 deg slopes in mine

[@twotone3070]

I came looking for this comment. I think he treats it like a Chelsea Tractor.

[@kenwiberg6517]

Did you hear the footsteps or see the footprints ............... ? :-)

[@backpacker3421]

"You can just do that in Photoshop" IF you want to take multiple pictures of the same subject AND have the time AND your subject doesn't move AND you want to spend tons more time in post production. OR, you can just put a grad filter on and click once. Yet somehow the Photoshop crowd thinks their way is easier?

[@backpacker3421]

And I totally forgot to mention it, but you did at the end of the video... long exposure effects! Totally impossible in post production no matter what software you are using. If there is moving water, or any cloud cover of any kind, slow shutter speeds can make a good photo into an amazing photo.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Preaching to the converted here Brendan, although I would avoid Nick Page if I were you. He thinks differently. On a separate subject, I've been wondering why those Portugese cliffs look so barren and I reckon it's because the climate is so much drier, whereas here in Cornwall we are lucky to have wonderful multicoloured lichens growing on our cliffs.

[@toddysurcharge771]

I don't think anyone can say always use filters or never use filters. Some things can only be done following one of those paths. Unless your photography is incredibly one dimensional....

[@pauloviegas7957]

It's partially because of the climate and also the nature of the rock wich is sandy.

[@BeauKooJack1]

Maybe dumb question from a total newbie but can't you just slide the grad filter in upside own, instead of a dedicated reverse grad filter?

[@BrendanvanSon]

You can, some times. But the edge of the filter shows up sometimes. It is a trick old pros use, so it's actually a very smart question.

[@pmc7105]

Yeah, that beard's out of control ;)

[@xavierbeaudoux]

Your third reason to prefer filters is a secret Brendan? Did I missed something 🤔

[@toysoldier739]

Friendly reminder. You are driving a defender 90. Your car was litrally made for that terrain.

[@urmumsgstring8254]

when you use an ND the end result isn't what you would see, so why not bracket, play with time even play with focal lengths make an image that is as wow as possible, I mean you are already faking the image you might as well do it, i never use a grad or variable, I use a 6,10 and sometimes 16 and a polariser great you finally moved in congrats and great video.

[@Hdhdkcidbnskdhcjcbfnd]

But the argument with the sky I don't get, if you want movement in the sky set your camera accordingly ISO down - > shutter speed down Today the only reason for big filter systems is to get it in camera already correct from my point of view

[@BrendanvanSon]

Ok. But what if it's still so bright outside that you drop the iso to 100 (or even 50) and the lowest shutter speed for the sky is 1 second? A 4 stop nd would make that sky 15 seconds.

[@Hdhdkcidbnskdhcjcbfnd]

@@BrendanvanSon than at least you can go with drop in or round filters and save on the bulky and expensive filter systems 🤗 And the comment wa referring to the use of graduated filters you explained 😉

[@joshuadxlee]

Your photoshop example isn't quite relevant to grad filters, that's more HDR. Most people would be referring to Lightroom's grad filter which you can just drag down

[@johnhillman2619]

My Three Suns: www.dropbox.com/s/6i7vraj9tb60tg5/5D3_9189_v2%20-%20Copy.jpg?dl=0

[@veronikagundersen9334]

I’ve found that taking down the highlights using the ND grad filters will help cut down lens flare versus taking multiple exposures. If I don’t use a filter and I take a picture exposed for the foreground, and the sky is very bright, sometimes I will get flare that bleeds into the foreground and I lose contrast in that image. Depends on how badly your lenses flare, so YMMV... but it’s something to consider. Another reason I use them if I can is, because, why *not* get the exposure as good as I can in camera? I’d rather spend the time and enjoy the experience shooting, not post processing. Of course there are costs involved, filters are not cheap.

[@hamishstubbs9029]

Jesus I'm at the first filter and your using a grad in a place you definitely shouldn't be