Neutral Density Filter: Why Do We Need Them in Photography?

While editing applications are doing a great job in enhancing images, there are still some effects that can only be achieved using filters. Neutral density filter is one of the most important filters that creative and landscape photographers use when shooting outdoors in broad daylight.

If you are just beginning to explore photography, using a neutral density filter will amaze you. The main purpose of this filter is to reduce the amount of light that enters your camera lens. This may sound very basic, but with this simple tool, you can play with the motion, light, aperture, exposure, and shutter speed. You can have a longer exposure time, a shallower depth of field, a sharper photograph, or a combination of these three. A neutral density filter blocks the light so you can reduce the intensity of wavelengths or colours and enjoy more creative control on how your images.

There are many other reasons why you need a neutral density filter in photography. Here are some of them:

1. Capturing waterfalls or bodies of water

Taking photos of water with a neutral density filter is a good idea. You can use them when capturing the beauty of waterfalls and rivers to give the water a silky look and placid feel. What photographers do is to shoot at a slow shutter speed to achieve a motion-blur effect. Without a neutral density filter, it will be difficult for the camera to shoot at the slower shutter speed and photos will look overexposed.

2. Achieve ghosting effects

Some photographers also use this filter to remove people from the frame or at least make them less obvious in the images. That way, the camera will focus more on the landscape or architecture than the tourists. Using an intense neutral density filter and setting the exposure to 30 seconds, people moving through the frame will ghost out. This will be effective when shooting in a public space where people are always on the move. Take note, however, that it is not recommended for night photos.