Neutral Density 8 Filter

[Foots]

Sometimes, I find all the bits and bobs of photography a little overwhelming.

Several months ago, I admired a photo which had cool foamy looking water. MA said a ND8 filter would do that.

At the camera store, the salesperson sold me a Tiffen Neutral Density 6 filter and said it was just the same.

I spent a day photographing fountains (working ones), adjusting settings after settings and didn't get the foamy looking water.

Checked back at the camera store, this salesperson (a different one) said they don't stock ND8 filters as they are not popular - come in squares and need an adapter to use.

So now I am confused. Can anybody help me. I am trying to take one thing at a time and sort it out, before moving on. I kind of had my heart seat on making foamy water.

It could be that what I have works, but I didn't have the correct camera settings. Or do I have to buy the square thingy with the adapter?

[Lovin]

For me it's working just with long exposure.
Switch the settings on P, and try 1-2 seconds exposure first.

Here is a link about the ND filters and how to... http://www.alexwisephotography.net/b...nsity-filters/

[Matt K.]

Whole trick is long exposure. You can even use a polarizer, if need be. That would stop you down at least 2 stops. That may be enough time gained in exposure.

By the way, the Cokin filters are available on eBay for much less that you would pay for in a camera store ... and you can get an assortment of filters easier.

[Grant]

Foot The neutral density filter allows you to use a slower shutter speed and this helps blur the water. You can cut down the light and create this effect in three way. Use neutral density filter, I have two a #3 and a #6. You can also use a polarizing filter. Both of these don’t do as good a job as waiting until the light has faded. I get my best results early in the morning or very late in the day.

To give you a feel for what to expect a #8 ND filter will cut down the light by 2.8 stops. Now if it is a sunny day and you are shooting at ISO 200 and your aperture is f/16 then your shutter speed will be 1/200. If you use the #8 filter and stay with all the settings and only change the shutter you are now be at 1/40 of a second and this is not slow enough to do what you want. If you come back at dusk you can easily shoot at 1 second and that is enough to do what you want. Of course you will need a tripod.

[Foots]

Lovin, thanks for the link. Very easy to understand and great photos. That's exactly what I would like to try to do.
Grant, I tried to make my camera have the settings you mentioned and couldn't get them to all stay at once. If I put the camera on M 1/40 ISO 200, it wants to be on F5.6 (BTW I am pretty new to DSLR - and terrible at reading photography books)
Matt, Great suggestion. When I figure out what I am supposed to buy .....

[Greg_Nuspel]

OK if you are getting 1/40 at f5.6 stop down to f16 and you should be down to 1/5 second you are now getting into motion blur range. It's all about slow shutter speed. Tips and Techniques: Shutter Speeds and Moving Water