Ever heard of an ND filter? The ND stands for neutral density (not “now darker” as a clever fool might think). Neutral density basically means it makes things look dark without changing the color. They are also known by the elite as sunglasses for cyclops monsters. So if you’re a photographer looking for a new tool to expand your creative possibilities, or if you’re a one-eyed giant tired of squinting, step away from that cave of treasure you’re guarding and come see if an ND filter is right for you.

What you’ll need:

1. Camera. This can be a digital pocket camera like the Canon SD1000 or the Canon G9 (the G9 already has an ND filter built in, just select it from the menu), or a DSLR - I’m using the Canon 5D.
2. Tripod. You don’t have to use a tripod, but most of what I like from the long exposure is a crisp environment with a blurred element. You’ll really need a tripod for that.
3. The ND filter. If you are using a pocket camera you could just buy the smallest ND filter and hold it in front of the lens, or you could get the feeling with a dark pair of sunglasses. If you like the tool, it’s time to step up and get screwy. My favorite screw on ND filter is the B+W 106 ND 1.8. MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT SIZE FOR YOUR LENS! The B+W is made in Germany. The quality over a Chinese made ND filter is clear and worth every penny. I like the 106 because it’s dark enough to make a difference (6 stops!), but not so dark that you can’t see through it to frame the exposure.
4. Last, and most important in my book: You need an idea. We’ll get to this below.

The ND filter - How:

• This is pretty straight forward. Make sure the filter is the right size to screw onto your lens, screw it on.
• Look through the viewfinder. DON’T PANIC! It’s supposed to look dark. That’s the point. If it doesn’t look darker, then you put the wrong filter on or it fell off the end of your camera and rolled down the gutter.
• Set your camera to the lowest ISO to start (you can adjust it later to fine tune the effect you’re going after - lower ISO number = longer shutter = more movement blur).
• Mount your camera on the tripod.
• Set your camera to aperture priority (if your camera doesn’t have aperture priority, just cross your fingers, it should still work)
• You may have to focus manually, it depends on the situation. So if your camera isn’t focusing, give it a little help.
• Trigger your shutter either with a cable release or use the self timer. You don’t want to bump that camera. We’re trying to create an allusion for crepes sake!
• Look at the result. Evaluate. Make changes if necessary. Try again.

And now… the WHY!

Using a neutral density filter gives you access to a long exposure in situations you wouldn’t normally. So that’s why you would use an ND filter. Does that leave you wondering why you might want to use a long exposure. Sure, a long exposure can get you a blurry waterfall, blurry people walking around, a blurry bus. And what the world needs now is more pictures of blurry buses!

Take your blurry water/people/bus pictures to practice the technique, but when it gets down to it think about what the blur might mean, what sort of emotion it might evoke. Having locked down sharp image with a blurred element can expand your photo vocabulary. Here are a few examples:

• create a dream like feeling for the viewer
• insinuate the passage of time
• suggest a feeling of uneasiness, off balance-ness
• imply a character’s euphoria

I shot this with a 24-105 at 24mm aperture priority. I put the model in a spot of sun that was peeking through the clouds so the background would be slightly underexposed compared to the foreground. I shot about 20 exposures at different settings adjusting the amount of blur. This one seemed to convey what I was going for best. The idea compositionally was to start your eye on the guy and have it get sucked into the spinning ferris wheel and up to the circle at the top of the needle, then back down again into the ferris wheel. The idea, idea wise was to create a feeling of a man looking for someone. He is panicked that he can’t find them. But I didn’t want to show his face, so how do I convey panic or uneasiness? Whip out the ND and get that wheel spin blurrin’! Does it work? You get to judge that for yourself. But I’m happy that it conveyed the feeling I was looking for.

There are plenty of emotions/reactions a long shutter can help pull out of your audience. Just follow your shutter’s example, slow down, think about what you are trying to say. Can you say it better with blur? Than an ND may be the right tool for you.

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