Scott Jones

I just got a neutral density filter to play around with and tried it last night out at the Sutro Baths. It’s a B + W #110 ND filter, making a difference of nine stops, so long exposures are possible even in daylight and as the sun drops, you can leave the shutter open for ages. The glass is so dark you can barely see through it, which makes composing one’s shot a challenge.

I find I have to focus and compose with the filter removed, then lock everything down and replace the filter to make the exposure. The D700’s meter is also completely confused by the filter, so I also have to over-expose by several stops according to the camera’s exposure reading. Last night I got a bit lucky with this shot, as the couple in the left foreground did a great job of staying still for 30 seconds.

But I really like how the water is smooth and creamy, due to the long exposure. Without the filter the waves would be sharp and crisp because there was still a lot of light. Info: Made with a Nikon D700 Digital SLR Camera, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens, on a Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod with a Manfrotto 488RC2 Midi Ball Head and a Nikon MC30 Remote Cable Release in Mirror Up mode with a B + W #110 ND filter. Exposure at 30 seconds, f/7.1, ISO 200, 34mm, processed in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.