Photography with a gray filter - the best tips

So-called ND filters or gray filters are part of the standard equipment of every photographer. If you take pictures with gray filter, you can achieve different effects. In this practical tip, we will introduce you to a few options.

Take pictures with a gray filter

Photographing with a gray filter darkens the incident light and you can take pictures better in very bright surroundings.

• How much the light is darkened depends on your filter. Gray filters are available in levels from 0.3 ND to 9 ND, which allow different amounts of light to pass through.
• If you use a gray filter in bright surroundings, you can take pictures with a wider aperture or longer exposure times.
• In addition, many ND filters can be combined so that you can further reduce the light transmission. If you screw about two filters in a row that allow 50 percent of the light to pass through, only a quarter of the brightness arrives at the sensor.

Photography with a gray filter: Long exposure times

You can achieve beautiful effects by taking pictures with a longer exposure time.

• Usually, your images will be overexposed if you choose a particularly long exposure time.
• With a gray filter, you can prevent this and take pictures with a long exposure time despite lots of light.
• As a result, movements become blurred and merge.
• For example, you can display water or clouds, as well as fast moving objects in a particularly creative way.