What filter to use?

[Soumendra]

Hi..

I always had a question in my mind, that how do we get the natural clouds ?

Just like this,
Falling clouds...........On TV.......... | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I have tried everything, but it always gets white or blank or just light blue parts.
But not natural.

Is that bcz of filters, they get such pictures ?

So, what I need ?
Can anyone send me a link to buy some ?

[Soumendra]

I was just checking Adorama and it lists a lot of filter types.
I dont what I need or what is the difference between those filters,




Home > Filters

Protective / UV & Skylight

Polarizing Filters

Filter Kits

Black & White Contrast Filters

Color Conversion Filters

Graduated Color Filters

Neutral Density Filters

Color Compensating Filters

Special Effect Filters

Close-Up Filters

Image Softening Filters

Infra-Red Filters



Can anyone point me to some online article which can explain what all those filters do or whats the difference between them ?

[Jim Poor]

Those clouds are far from natural.

I'd start with a ND grad and/or a polarizer.

[dcclark]

A polarizer will help a lot, for several reasons:

1. A polarizer darkens the sky and lets the clouds "pop" out more.
2. A polarizer absorbs light, helping to even out the difference between the bright clouds and the darker foreground.

As Jim said, a GND (Graduated Neutral Density filter) might also help. It is half shaded and half clear. Put the shaded part over the brightest area (usually the sky), to absorb light. If the difference between the brightest part of yoru scene, and the darkest, is too big, then you'll get blown-out hilights (as you've noticed).

[Soumendra]

Now confused between a Polarizer and GRAD-ND.

Bcz, grad-ND darkens it completely , without keeping the original view of the sky!

I just need the original natural view..

[dcclark]

Graduated NDs only darken half of the image, not the whole. Are you sure you don't have a regular ND (as opposed to a Graduated one)?

Remember, cameras do NOT record what your eye sees. They record the actual light there. Your eyes and brain are amazing at their ability to filter, selectively reveal, ignore, or otherwise edit a scene. Also, you can see a much wider range of light than your camera can. Filters and processing is necessary to make an image show what you saw.

[Soumendra]

Ok, I just got a few links,
Hoya 58mm Neutral Density (NDX4) 0.6 Filter A58ND4X - B&H Photo

Hoya 58mm Neutral Density (NDX8) 0.9 Filter A58ND8X - B&H Photo

Hoya 58mm Half Neutral Density (ND) x 4 Glass Filter S58NDH4X -


Let me know, which is the best to go for daylight clouds.

[dcclark]

Only the last filter in your list is Graduated ("half" in Hoya's language). The rest are fully shaded. Those are probably not what you want.

I'd still look for a circular polarizer.

[Soumendra]

Yes please, can you send me a link from any online store, so that I can directly buy ?

[dcclark]

You already found filters at B&H, just search for polarizers there. Be sure that they are "Circular" (not "Linear") or else you'll have trouble with them on a digital camera.