Understanding neutral density filters
with JASON INGRAM
Lesson 7 of 27
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Jason explains how neutral density filters (or ND filters) help to balance the exposure of your garden and nature photography, breaking down what they are, why they’re important and when to use them.
From the Lesson Workbook
Neutral Density Filters
In garden and nature photography, neutral density graduated filters can come in particularly handy.
Neutral Density Graduated Filters
These are filters with a band of a darker area at the top, which helps to reduce the contrast of sky so that the finer details are retained. They are particularly useful when you're shooting directly into the sunlight.
When we talk about 'stops' in photography, we mean 'stops of light' - essentially the amount of light that you are allowing to enter the camera. Aperture is one way to control this, and is measured through f-stops. Neutral density filters are another way to adjust the amount of lighting. Different stops are available across the length of the neutral density filter.
Using Flags
When you're shooting into the sun, the light may hit the lens, which compromises the levels of contrast and can cause a milkiness to your photograph. One way to prevent this is to use a piece of card to deflect the light.
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Your Instructor
Jason Ingram
UK's leading garden and landscape photographer. Garden Media Guild 'Photographer of the Year'.
Jason Ingram is an award-winning garden photographer based in Bristol. He travels widely photographing gardens, plants and people for the UK’s leading magazines and provides photography for numerous best selling gardening books by top international garden designers. In 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2014 and 2013 he was awarded ‘Garden Photographer of the Year’ by The Garden Media Guild and ‘Features Photographer of the Year’ in 2019 and 2016. For his personal work, Jason has been photographing the landscape and coastline of Britain for over 25 years, and in 2008 was awarded ‘Landscape Photographer of the Year’ for "Living the View" category. Jason lectures on his work and teaches in-person garden photography courses. His work is held in numerous private collections and he receives regular commissions from HM King Charles III to photograph his private estate at Highgrove, as well as Piet Oudolf’s garden at Hauser & Wirth gallery in Somerset.
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