ND grad vs HDR

[motoroller]

What would be the relative merits of each? Which do you use? I've only done HDR - no additional equipment required :P

[colbyb25]

Yes but a lot of PP is required. For the most part, a good filter system will allow you to take incredibly detailed images in situations that are not ideal....and still retain the value of realism. I love HDR work, but nothing beats a solid filter system. By the way, you probably ment GND and not ND.

[motoroller]

Yes - GND, my bad.

[lsquare]

Is a ND grad only useful when there is a horizon or definitive line to lineup with the filter? Or it can be used anywhere where the background is significantly brighter than the foreground?

[motoroller]

Only really where the there's a distinct horizon...

[WillOPhotos]

you can get soft or hard GNDs which means the transition in the filter is softer or harder, if you have mountains in background a soft one would probaly be better, I rather blend exposures then mess around with HDR.

[gixxer]

I perfer to use filters myself, I like to get as much right in camera as possible but there are certain occasions when filters won't help. You don't have to have a perfectly straight horizon line to use an GND with good results even a hard edge, but it does take some practice to get used to using them. I've seen some really nicely done HDR images but I've also seen a lot more that in my opinion look pretty bad (but everyone has their own taste). Here's a link to the GND thread that has a lot of good examples and info in it http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=224448&highlight=lee+filter

[Desertraptor]

Why did he mean GND?
GND is as stated only useful for situations where there is a distinct line. ie horizons
A ND has far more uses with out the graduation
ie waterfalls or other situations where you have contrasts throughout an image

[WillOPhotos]

Think he meant because HDR is used when you cant catch the dynamic range in one Exposure and using a ND filter doesnt help this situation but with a GND you can help with darkening the skys.

[Lowner]

Theres no need to worry about the precise position of the GND, even with reasonably hard graduation filters. The filter is very out of focus (so very blurred) and the effect can be seen through the lens - just move it around until you get what you want.

I use a range of soft and hard grads in 1, 2 and 3 stops.

[WhyFi]

I've only done HDR - no additional equipment required :P
Good tripod?

[brucea]

I have done HDR with a GND. No reason not to.

[TXjack]

I have done HDR with a GND. No reason not to.

Very interesting. Perhaps the solution to my awful attempts at landscapes.
Please give details of camera setup. Can you show us the 3 shots (with GND) and the HDR result?

[sandro9mm]

Very interesting. Perhaps the solution to my awful attempts at landscapes.
Please give details of camera setup. Can you show us the 3 shots (with GND) and the HDR result?
I really want to go on with this and test it... was interested for quite a while now and today I purchased filter system. I prefer to be out in the field working then spending time on the comp, so I prefer to do everything in camera... hence the choice - but I wanna see the real difference! so will do tests :D