Using ND Filters with Strobes: Ep 212: Digital Photography 1 on 1

[IamAndrewDucker]

I need to know where I can get that background!

[julietteb981]

I'm about to start a project that takes place completely at night (its a story) but obviously, shooting in the day is much easier, so this works perfectly for me since it darkens the background. When I went to purchase this though, the mm options confused me. I know this might just be a silly question that I am just overlooking but I want to make sure I purchase the correct one. thanks

[julietteb981]

@julietteb981 Oh my goodness! I'm such a dork....lol I knew it was something silly.... the mm is the size of the lens...wow, I totally had a brain malfunction there...lol anyways thanks Mark, your videos are awesome, I learn more from you than my college courses!

[lotfihdv]

1 Unhappy Truck Driver thinking this ND stands for NuDe

[snuurtje]

If the light you meter is f8, what should you set the shutter speed and iso to if thats correct? That also affects the brightness right?

[fleacz]

so much i wanna do, too bad everything is expensive!

[gigpic]

Lydia should not own a studio if she cannot figure this out herself.

[vincylikes]

The problem you have with nd filters is that u wont see anything thru the viewfinder. I have a 3 stop one and its hard.

[dlarm112]

@sensedh the shutter speed doesn't make a difference since the flash is so short and bright. The camera still only captures the flash no matter how long the exposure.

[Sensedh]

Why don't they just use a high shutter speed? This is new to me haha.

[Lokiwho]

This was great! I learned something new and realized I should probably try one of these out!

[jimpurcell]

Thanks for another great video!

[shaughz]

Another Wicked Sexy Model , Great Tutorial also

[danthemansky]

Best show ever Mark!

[STEPPHAN7]

Awesome stuff!

[defrost009]

If your stobe are to powerful for your aperture, you can shoot with the modeling light. You will have to adjust the white balance to match.

[Simaster]

Another great video.. glad to see the views are going up and these vids are getting the hits they deserve.

[NeverEndingThursdays]

I'm loving the out takes. I love them more than my children.

[FakeSmileClown]

where con i buy a movie slate?



[room28ministries]

The elevator music.

[aciddevil]

...This is CRAZY! ;) great video.

[sta05055]

great photos and cool music!!

[harrybean2006]

Thanks for showing techniques that most people never think about!

[Turtlena315]

Hey Mark, how dark is it when you are looking through the viewfinder? Especially with the NDX 400. Is it pretty much a ballpark guess with the composition/focus?

[snapfactory]

@Turtlena315 It was VERY bright outside so I could see and focusing wasn't very difficult. AF behaved pretty well. I did get a couple of soft images, but overall they were great. With the 3-stop ND filter in the studio the Canon autofocus system worked normally and I could see well enough to tell if the focus was soft.

[cityeighteen]

@snapfactory Perhaps would it be easier to focus without the filter, and then put it on right before you take the shot? It might seem logical in a darker setting such as an indoor studio.

[diwash9612425]

Mark lll Wallace you are awesome !!!

[tsoueid]

what is the title of the jazz song used in the background?

[manusunil]

Hi,

how is EV -3 different from ND8 with three stops light filter?

[hdjkasdhah]

@manusunil EV -3 will underexpose your picture by 3-stops and it will look dark but when you is ND you shoot in Manual mode for correct exposure. ND is used to cut down light but in the end your picture is properly exposed e.g. you can use ND (10-stops) and f/22 with 2 min of exposure to get silky water and clouds in the middle of the day.

Hope it helps.

[TheNormanvsNorman]

Love this channel!

[proTest443]

I'm having problems autofocusing with a ND filter on (esp. a stronger one). is there a way around this without using manual focus??

[DaveBulowDBP]

@proTest443 Hi! Assuming you're trying the indoor option (first half of the video)? If so, try putting a ND 'gel' (a grey filter) over the flash/strobe instead of a ND Filter over the lens. That will have the same effect by reducing the power of the flash and you'll be able to focus. Hope this helps.

[proTest443]

@DaveBulowDBP yeah, I figured that out, but what about for outside?? there I would like to keep my strobe power, so wouldn't put a gel on it. I'd have to be on the camera, and that is where my problems begin..

[DaveBulowDBP]

@proTest443 That's harder - the best you can do is get the ISO as low as possible. Some cameras have an 'ISO expansion' feature in the custom functions which will allow you to go beyond the standard ISOs, both higher and lower. For example the Canon 5D will then let you go to 50 ISO instead of 100. That should help. Alternatively, use high speed sync if your flash/camera has that option, which will let you work faster than your standard max sync speed, though that's normally just speedlights...

[DaveBulowDBP]

@proTest443 2 more options if you definitely want shallow DOF and work wide open:

1. Use tripod. Pre-focus (AF or MF). Switch to MF if not already MF. ND Filter on. Shoot.

2. You can in some situations work BEYOND the sync speed. Cameras start leaving larger and larger 'non-flash-exposed' horizontal strips at the bottom of the image the faster the shutter. Frame the shot so the bottom part of the image won't need flash (upside down if necessary). Ambient light will still expose whole frame.

[uateva]

This is really cool, thanks

[DaveBulowDBP]

Nice video, but in the first example indoors, I can't help thinking that a better option would be to put a 'ND Gel' (effectively an ND filter) on the flash instead of the camera, for 2 reasons:

1. Less 'extra glass' in front of the lens means technically a higher quality, sharper image. For this reason I particularly wouldn't recommend 'stacking' NDs on your lens unless absolutely necessary.

2. Much easier to focus the camera, whether Autofocus or Manual, especially indoors with limited light.

[mouthpiecejet]

are you able to autofocus with the ND filter?

[NIKONGUY1960]

Def learned something today. Thanks!

[garmmera]

THIS IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR!!!!! THANK YOU !!!!

[mrRapkis]

I don't understand these 'STOPS' can anyone explain please?

[mrRapkis]

@kevinkooss thanks for the answer :) It will help if you tell me what the ^ symbol means... :)

[kevinkooss]

@mrRapkis mathematical 'power' function (2^N also could be rewritten as 2**N). 2^3 = 2*2*2, 2^4 = 2*2*2*2,...

[mrRapkis]

@kevinkooss oh yes! that one! thank you

[kevinkooss]

@mrRapkis you're welcome. thanks a lot to Mark and the crew for all these videos

[HDshawti]

what strobe is being used outside??

[XxDJCyberLoverxX]

Mark, your videos are always so informative!

Quick question, did you trigger the studio strobe with your light meter?! wow, what model light meter is that?

[joachim6209]

HI!

How did U manage the Focus,.. I mean it must be so dark in the viewfinder that U must manually focus?

[RavenRof]

Finally these tutorials are getting some popularity ;D You deserv the boost mark! Great job!

[prasannabanwat]

Hello,

Awesome episode.

Could you make an episode for taking pictures of moon with Canon 60D with 18-135mm kit lens?

Thank you.

[evenode]

Need some filters..

[PachulizPunk]

Thanks Mark!! Great video!!!!!

[kaisar1]

loved this video. I always wanted to take some shots like that (the one in the bright day light) and now i can

[joshua25071994]

haha... "I shot all of these in jpeg" Great :D:... haha :D

[mkohman]

LOL you look like the guy in "theres something about Mary" I am sure you have been told that before :)

[augustomet]

How do 3 steps take you from 8 to 2.8?

[CallawayERCII]

@augustomet

That should be "Stops" not steps and thay are f2.8 - f4 - f5.6 - f8

[ashkibala1]

@augustomet 8 - 5.6 1 stop - 4 2 stops - 2.8 3 stops

[manozr]

just day before i was looking for GND filters, and without asking its ND:

[estudio100rafa]

1/160 sec is the top sync speed on a 5Dmark II? eew

[snapfactory]

@estudio100rafa I think it's technically 1/200 but most 5DM2 users will tell you that 1/200 still shows a bit of the rear curtain. So many (if not most) 5DM2 shooters use 1/160 as their sync speed.

[Antovegadotcom]

@estudio100rafa i use 1/250 on my 5d2

[Jaywifh]

@estudio100rafa Ya. eew. Surprising indeed.

[IngloriousSob]

first time i looked at the store. talk about over priced stuff, great video tho. thanks

[GhostofRazors]

Where is the Spec hi light of the sun it her Glasses?

[TheChaliWorld]

nice i like those results



[saudiwoow]

I learned something new .. thanks Mark

[oscarcll]

Mark, could you even see anything through the 9 stop ND filter at 6:12? Great video as always. Thanks!

[Snakekilla12]

6:39 the first shot you can see the shadow from the sun (model's left)

[Snakekilla12]

I thought you never use any filters mark? (based on what you said at the creativeLive workshop)

[snapfactory]

@Snakekilla12 I normally don't use filters but lots of people asked how to use an ND filter so I made this video. So I guess that means I now use filters. :)

[Snakekilla12]

@snapfactory ahhh I see I see!