LEE Filters 150 x 150mm 0.45 Neutral Density Filter

ANeutral Density filter permits you to create images that would ordinarily not be possible without such filtration. For the landscape and nature photographer, using this filter allows you to create a blur in a rippling stream rather than freezing the motion which is what most photos traditionally display. Even in big city, you can shoot traffic and create a sense of motion. Or, if you prefer nature photography, catch a bird in flight and watch the trail behind him as he flies.

ND filters are valuable, for both film and digital, because they allow you to use slower shutter speeds with fast films and ISOs when shooting under bright light - a beach, the desert, and other such scenarios. The trick with neutral density filtration is knowing which grade to use in order to achieve the results you want.

Determining which neutral density filter yields ideal results for any given lighting situation takes knowledge, experience and a collection of such filters. Choose the filter strength which adjusts the lighting to stay within the exposure latitude (greatest difference between bright/dark values) which still shows details in both of the digital or film medium in use.

Neutral Density Filters Have Four Main Uses

To enable slow shutter speeds to be used, especially with high speed films, to record movement in subjects such as waterfalls, clouds, or cars

To decrease depth of field by allowing wider apertures to be used, which helps separate subjects from their background

To decrease the effective ISO of high speed film (above ISO 400) and allow it to be used outdoors in bright situation

To allow cine and video cameras (which have fixed shutter speeds) to film subjects such as snow, sand or other bright scenes which could cause overexposure