First Attempt with ND Filters

Filters arrived today; this photo is my first attempt at stacking CPL with ND filters to get a shot in strong light using a reflector, camera right.

6-stop stacked ND with CPL shot at 6:00 pm

50mm @1.4 iso 100 1/80 on tripod using wireless remote trigger

CC is welcome to help me get a better handle of using filters.

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is it really necessary to use a filter??...i feel as though you could have gotten a much better shot without them, reminds me when i would experiment with OCF and radio triggers, now i find zero use for my PW and realize i get much better shots using available light.

There's no reason to use an ND filter here. You shot at 1/80 and could have gotten a faster shutter speed without it. Do keep the CPL on in this case though. You want to use an ND filter when there is too much light or you need a long exposure. I can't think of a situation to use it for people since even the most still person will still move a bit during a long exposure. I'm sure someone has used an ND filter with people at some time and needed it.

i heard ND filter is generally used for sunset/sunrise ?

My guess is the ND filters were used to allow for the 1.4 aperture. Also often used with off camera lighting.

In this case, the ND filter appears to do what you needed, but focus is a bit off (front focused on shoulder?). Doesn't look like motion blur or camera shake was an issue, but you may want to keep your SS up a little higher if possible.

Anyway, I like the colors in this shot.

moeronn wrote in post #12786458
My guess is the ND filters were used to allow for the 1.4 aperture. Also often used with off camera lighting.

In this case, the ND filter appears to do what you needed, but focus is a bit off (front focused on shoulder?). Doesn't look like motion blur or camera shake was an issue, but you may want to keep your SS up a little higher if possible.

Anyway, I like the colors in this shot.

I was taking some shots of our waterfall in the backyard to get that silky smooth effect and decided to see what I could get doing some portrait work. In retrospect, I should have reduced the amount of filtration to raise the SS up to at least 1/160; I figured that since I was using a tripod that would be mute. My wife was holding a silver reflector camera right; had my daughter close her eyes then count backwards from (3) and snap the shot. I believe we got some motion blur because of this.
I used the added ND filters to get the f/1.4 setting with frontal lighting; not because I had to, but because I wanted to see what could be achieved, figuring why not see what can be achieved with filters. Aside from the blur, I am pleased with background and colors.

Will give it another try tonight...

with natural light you are not limited by sync speed.... you could shoot @ F1.4 without the ND @ somewhere around 1/2000.....

take the same shot and darken the background with 1/250 SS and use a flash to light the subject... (flash power F11).. now you can narrow the DOF and get some under exposed backgrounds..

with the ND you can shoot wide open and still keep shutter speeds that will sync with flash.. more control over the light...

and you have wireless flash control on your 60D..

Took another shot at it last night; using my 55-250 with CPL and 3-step ND filter.

Used my circular reflector to diffuse the harsh light and the 430 EXII OCL with a diffuser to add some catchlight, and fill.