Page 128 - (DK) Advanced Photography Guide

126 APPLYING | GRADUATED ND FILTERS

BALANCING DIFFERENT AMOUNTS

OF LIGHT IN A LANDSCAPE

A common problem when shooting a landscape is there is no direct light on the foreground. In this
getting the exposure right for both the foreground situation, a graduated neutral-density (ND) filter
and the sky. When the sky is much brighter than the can help balance the exposure, but it is important
foreground it can be impossible to set an exposure to use a filter that is the right strength. If you add
that works for both of them. This usually happens one that is too strong, the sky will look unnaturally
when you are shooting toward the sun or when dark, or the foreground may be overexposed.

SELECT MANUAL SELECT SPOT METERING METER THE FOREGROUND
For shots like this, set the exposure Switch the metering option to spot Position the camera’s spot meter
for the foreground and use the filter to or partial metering. Neither multi-area area over a midtone in the foreground
adjust the exposure for the sky. Manual nor center-weighted metering are precise and take a reading. If there are no
gives you the precise control that you enough to be able to meter specific areas midtones in the foreground, use a
need for this process. of a scene accurately. gray card (see p.100) to assist you.

SET THE CORRECT EXPOSURE METER THE SKY CALCULATE THE DIFFERENCE
Select the aperture that will create Position the meter over a midtone Select a graduated ND filter
the required depth of field for the shot. in the sky. The exposure index will show that reduces the exposure difference
Set the shutter speed so that the the variation in lighting between the to 1-stop. If the sky is 3-stops brighter
foreground will be correctly exposed. foreground and the sky. than the foreground, use a 2-stop filter.

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