When and how to use split neutral density filters?

[amby]

can anyone please tell me when and how to use split neutral density filters?:o

[Sunny]

Topic Approved

[powerslave]

First google link : http://www.barbeephoto.com/articles/using_split_neutral_density.htm

[Sunny]

^ Nice one, an excerpt:

Split neutral density (ND) filters (also called graduated neutral density filters) are filters that are clear in one half and dark in the other. As the name implies, they are color neutral filters. This means that when you place them in front of your lens colors are not changed, only the amount of light passing through the lens.

Source: http://www.barbeephoto.com/articles/using_split_neutral_density.htm

I have always maintained that the ND filters do not work well in situations where there is anot a clearly define horizontal or vertical boundary of bright and dark areas, for example a flat landscape with a bright sky and a dark ground will benefit from ND but a close city scape might not because of the highly random and crooked boundary between the bright sky and the darker buildings.

a probable, and less expensive solution to this will be HDRs.

[powerslave]

Well graduated NDs sound better than split. I haven't used any, but in theory they sound right considering the smooth gradual decrease from bright to dark.

[Psycho_McCrazy]

The graduated neutral density filters are useful for taking a shot where one part of your intended photographic framing is significantly brighter than the other - say at a beach - bright sky and strong reflection on the water AND normal sand beach - this is where you use the filter to reduce the brightness of the bright part (by keeping the dark part of the filter aligned with the bright part of the scene) so that the exposure has significant detail and contrast in the entire image.

an grad-ND is a non-post processing method of increasing the dynamic range of your photographs. While very useful with film, in these days of digital captures, RAW image files and HDR soffies, they are IMO losing significance.