Split the Difference

The human eye is amazing. It can perceive a wide range of light values that make a camera envious. The camera has a limited dynamic range and this presents a problem for scenic landscapes. To compress the range, Eric and I use the graduated neutral density filter. The upper half is dark and the lower half is clear. This allows the exposure for the bright sky to be held back while achieving a proper exposure for the foreground. The filter is made in varying strengths. We use the one with a two f-stop range but can't wait for a three f-stop version to be produced. A similar effect can be accomplished using HDR (high dynamic range) with multiple exposures, but that is for another blog.