Kase Revolution Filters \ Whats New?
A number of years back I had a set of Kase Wolverine Magnetic filters, and right from the get-go I was very impressed with how they worked and also the quality of the images that I was able to produce with them. I was so impressed I made a video about my first impressions of them and how I thought they would help my photography overall.
Soon afterwards these filters were constantly being put to use on almost every adventure I went on with my camera. The ability to put them on and take them off very quickly was something that I found to be a game changer for me and my workflow. The Polariser filter was also superb to use, snapping it on and a simple twist and I was ready to hit the shutter very quickly
Filters for landscape photography can be hit or miss for many people, some swear by them and others prefer to take multiple shots and blend the different exposures for light and dark together later in post. For me, I prefer to try to get the shot in one shot while on location and found myself using many of the filters during one single shoot.
One of the primary reasons to use ND filters in landscape photography is to control the intensity of light. These filters reduce the amount of light entering your camera without affecting color balance, allowing you to achieve longer exposures even in bright conditions. By slowing down the shutter speed, ND filters enable creative possibilities such as capturing the smooth flow of waterfalls, creating ethereal clouds in the sky, and emphasizing motion blur in moving subjects. With ND filters, you gain precise control over exposure, resulting in captivating images with stunning visual effects.
Expanding Dynamic Range
Landscape scenes often exhibit a wide dynamic range, with bright highlights and deep shadows. ND filters help balance this range by preventing overexposure of highlights, allowing you to retain more detail in both bright and shadowed areas. By reducing the intensity of light, ND filters help maintain the integrity of the scene, ensuring that no essential elements are lost due to blown-out highlights. This expanded dynamic range enhances the overall tonal range in your photographs, resulting in images that are rich in detail and depth.
Achieving Artistic Long Exposures
Long exposure photography has the power to transform a landscape into a surreal and captivating masterpiece. ND filters enable you to extend the exposure time, blurring motion and creating a sense of serenity and stillness in your images. By using longer shutter speeds, you can transform crashing waves into silky-smooth surfaces, turn clouds into dreamlike streaks, and blur the hustle and bustle of cityscapes into ethereal trails of light. ND filters unlock a world of creative possibilities, allowing you to craft unique and evocative photographs that leave a lasting impression.
Balancing Bright Skies and Landscapes
Landscape scenes often feature a stark contrast between a bright sky and a darker foreground. This disparity can be challenging to capture accurately in-camera. ND graduated filters come to the rescue by allowing you to balance the exposure between the sky and the landscape. These filters have a gradient density, darker on top and gradually transitioning to clear or lighter at the bottom. By positioning the dark portion over the sky, you can reduce the brightness of the sky and achieve a more balanced exposure across the frame. This technique helps maintain detail in both the sky and the landscape, resulting in well-exposed and visually appealing images.
Creating Artistic Effects in-camera
ND filters also open up avenues for creating artistic effects directly in-camera. By using stronger ND filters, such as the 10-stop or 15-stop varieties, you can achieve incredibly long exposures during daylight hours. This extended exposure time blurs movement and transforms bustling scenes into deserted landscapes, with moving objects disappearing or leaving behind ghostly traces. These filters allow you to push the boundaries of traditional landscape photography and experiment with unique and surreal effects that add a touch of creativity and intrigue to your images.
Incorporating ND filters into your landscape photography gear collection is a decision that can take your images to new heights. From controlling light intensity and expanding dynamic range to capturing stunning long exposures and balancing exposures between the sky and land, ND filters offer a plethora of benefits for landscape photographers. These essential tools enable you to unleash your creativity, create captivating visual effects, and elevate your landscape photography to the next level. With precise control over exposure and the ability to capture the essence of motion and stillness, ND filters empower you to craft breathtaking images that stand out from the crowd.
Investing in a set of ND filters provides you with a versatile tool that enhances your ability to capture the beauty of nature in all its glory. From serene seascapes to majestic mountain ranges, ND filters enable you to overcome the limitations of harsh lighting conditions and capture the scene exactly as you envision it. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an enthusiastic beginner, ND filters offer endless possibilities for creative expression and allow you to push the boundaries of your artistic vision.
So, take the plunge and explore the world of ND filters for landscape photography. Experiment with different filter strengths, learn to master long exposures and discover the transformative power these filters have on your images. Embrace the freedom to control light, expand dynamic range, and create stunning visual effects that will leave viewers in awe of your work.
Remember, photography is an art form that constantly evolves and challenges us to push our creative boundaries. ND filters provide the tools to expand your artistic horizons and capture the magic of the natural world in all its splendor. So, equip yourself with ND filters, step into the realm of limitless possibilities, and watch as your landscape photography reaches new heights of beauty and impact.
Now I have the latest iteration of these fantastic filters, and already I’m impressed with the simple changes that have been made to them.
You can watch my thoughts on these new filters below