How to use the Formatt Hitech Pro Stop 10 ??

DaelpixOutdoors

DaelpixOutdoors

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David
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I've owned this filter for quite some time now and have messed about with it occasionally. My best photo is follows.



But then I realised there was a blue colour cast on it. So this is the final photo.




I'm sure I can do better can't I?

What settings should I use to take better photos using the filter?
 
Thanks. I'll try your tips.

Nice website :thumbs:

Any advice for ND (soft) Grad filters ? At the moment I have ND2 and ND4 cokin filters
 
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Very interesting blog and article mark. Makes me feel good that it looks pretty much like my own steps:) Would be interested to hear your views on white balance for 10 stop filters.

I started using a hitech pro stop 10 last year and initially left white balance to auto, aiming to correct in pp, but I wasn't completely happy with the results. The shift on my hitech isn't extreme, but it is noticeable to the blue.

This year I did a workshop with Ian Cameron, he showed us where to set a custom white balance to correct the colour shift. I've followed this approach since and been much happier with the results and less post processing needed.

Interested to hear different views.
 
Re white balance it would depend on your filter, even between examples of the same filter there are differences in strength and colour balance. My Big Stopper is ever so slightly cold but nothing I can't sort in PP and no worse than I would normally adjust for artistic purposes, in landscapes having correct WB is less important than an aesthetically pleasing result.

Re covering the viewfinder, light can come in through the viewfinder and around the flipped mirror, the effect you'll see is a bit like flare on the image and is a pain to sort out.
 
markyboy.1967 said:
I dont do much landscapes to be honest and im awaiting my big stopper turning up tomorrow however i tried a friends and never covered the viewfinder and had no issues whenever i used it.
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Most shots you won't have an issue, but when there is no downside to covering the viewfinder and it prevents you spoiling any shots I don't know why you wouldn't.
 
I tried the filter out two days ago and had a problem with the filter showing on the photos, so now I'm wondering if I should change to Lee filters or something else.

I'm planning on making a living out of photography, so I think these will be a good investment looking at the price :gag:
 
redddraggon said:
Looks like you have a light leak going on on those photos, are you covering up the viewfinder?
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Light leakage?


markmullen said:
Post some up, we'll have a look at what's going on.

When you say make a living from photography do you mean through landscapes?
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Yes, that's what I meant. I have a long way to go yet until I get some good photos to sell.
 
markmullen said:
I should warn you there are no landscape photographers that I know of who make a living solely from selling landscapes. It isn't a type of photography that is easy to monetize in any great scale. You can lead workshops, write magazine articles etc to earn a few quid but it isn't an easy way to make money.
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Yes I already know that :)
 
markmullen said:
Re covering the viewfinder, light can come in through the viewfinder and around the flipped mirror, the effect you'll see is a bit like flare on the image and is a pain to sort out.
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Mark i wish I had read this post and your tutorial before venturing out yesterday to the north norfolk coast where some of my results were reasonable, however some of the longer exsposed shots did suffer from light flare, me thinking at the time that covering the eye piece would not make much difference, how wrong I was. Its not that easy to clean up either. Lesson learn.
Once on my main PC I will post a sample if anyone is interested ?.
 
First one is striaght out of the camera raw converted to jpg and resized for useage here. Notice the flare at the top left, also another tip is to keep all your glass clean, as you can see quite a few dust bunnies creeping in..
 
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markmullen said:
The dust is more likely to be on your sensor than on the filter. Yes, that looks like light leaks to me. If you want to neutralise the colour cast try using your WB picker on some of those pebbles near the groyne towards the centre of the frame, I bet some of them are neutral enough to get a natural WB out of.
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Yes on my next adventure i will be playing more with the WB.:thumbs:
Some dust bunnies were on the sensor, the one to the top right was on the glass,taking a normal picture without the glass none of the dust marks came up, it was only when using the long exsposure one was able to notice them.
 
Is this what I have on mine above? In the centre of my photo there's a light area? Has light leaked in?
 
Mark is possibly correct, but you would know what the day was like, were you shooting into the sun ? if so then its highly likly this contributed to the flare, but again you would know what the day was like.

Mark has pointed out some interest issues and helpful points on his link. And would encourage you to read it again, as said make sure the eye piece is covered. If you wish for further info i am sure there are various tutorials on youtube or perhaps Hi Techs web site.
I use a Lee big stopper, it has a small band around it to seal any sides,top & bottom to stop lighting getting in.

I set my camera up with out filter in place, using manual focus setting to infinity, . Depending on the light of the day i set shutter to bulb and around the f11-f16 mark,place the filter in place. Using the remote control, open the shutter and make your count, after which have a look at what you have achieved, you may want to release the shutter earlier because you have to much light, or hold the shutter open longer if you have a darker image.

Hope this helps ?.
 
I cannot remember that the day was like when I shot it. I'm quite sure it was in the late afternoon. It was probably and most likely when I shot this one.


IMG_2137 by DaelPix, on Flickr


Just looking at it now, I notice there's some glare in the sky
 
If there is glare there then it fades into the picture quite well, but what i can see is the old dust bunnies creeping about, somthing i mentioned earlier. Better image as well. practise makes perfect, as they say.
 
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