Step Up Your Landscape Photography Using Tiffen's Pro100 Series Filter System

The more you photograph people, places, and things, the more you understand how much control the available light has over the outcome of your image. Taking advantage of tools like filters to limit or modify the light coming into your camera is a great way to craft a unique image and even add a dramatic flare that you may not be able to create otherwise. 

I’ll start by saying I’m not fan of Photoshop. It's not that I have anything against proper use of the software (I use it when I have to), it's just that I come from the school of “get it right in camera” and that’s led to me to spend more time and energy getting to know the ins and outs of my equipment, so I can create some interesting effects without being completely dependent on post production. This is where filters come into play.

Neutral Density Filters and Graduated Neutral Density Filters

Neutral density filters (ND filters) allow you to use a wider aperture or longer shutter speed than normally would be required. This means better control of depth of field and the ability to convey movement more effectively - which is what you want if you're trying to capture an image of a body of water with the smooth, smoky surface effect referred to as motion rendition.

Graduated ND filters help darken specific areas of an image, such as bright skies which can easily be blown out, while allowing for a normal, unaffected exposure in the other parts of the image.

Tiffen Pro100 ND Filter Starter Kit

The Tiffen Company creates optical photographic filters and lens accessories for photographers seeking more control over available light. I received the Tiffen Pro100 Series ND Starter Kit a few weeks ago and have been dying to get an opportunity to use it. 

The thoughtful design of the filter holder enables you to use up to two four inch by four inch 4mm thick glass Tiffen Motion Picture/Television filters at once, giving you the opportunity to stack filters for even more creative control.

What’s included with the ND Starter Kit

• Tiffen Pro100 Series Camera Filter Holder
• 77mm and 82mm Adapting Rings
• Tiffen ND 1.2 (4 Stop)
• Tiffen Graduated ND 1.2 (4 Stop)

Features​

• Extremely durable Aluminum Frame equipped with rubberized grips, allowing for a secure fit for 4X4 and 4X5.650 filters
• Holds up to two, 4mm thick filters
• Fully rotatable adapting ring
• Edge sealed to prevent light leaks*
• Works with adapting rings from 49mm-82mm
• ​Made in USA

* Felt lining included to prevent light leaks (for long exposure photography).

Creating Motion Rendition AKA Silky Water

Being primarily a portrait photographer, I needed an excuse to get out and take a few landscape photos to hang on my walls around the house, and to get a feel for what can be accomplished using the starter kit's two included filters.

Using the opportunity to test out the Pro 100 kit was the perfect excuse to get out of the house and enjoy the new year with my family. After a day of hiking through the desert, we found ourselves standing on a dock on Lake Havasu, a part of the Colorado River, enjoying the sunset. This was a great opportunity to capture a few long exposure shots of the lake using the kit. 

I started taking photographs of the lake using only the kit's graduated ND filter, but found that there was still too much available light for me to slow the shutter down to a point that I would begin to get the desired silky water effect I was hoping for. Taking advantage of the second filter slot on the kit's holder, I stacked the ND 1.2 filter on top of the graduated filter and was able to slow the shutter enough to achieve a 13 second exposure, resulting in the silky water I had been hoping for. 

Final Thoughts

As I mentioned before, I’m primarily a portrait photographer. I’ll be writing more in the future about using ND filters to achieve a shallow depth of field during mid-day portrait sessions, but I feel that having this kit buys me more time throughout the day that I’ll be able to shoot portraits with off camera flash and a nice, shallow depth of field. 

I’ll likely be adding a few more filters to the kit as I experience their advantages. In closing, I’d say that if you’re looking to expand on your ability to control light or improve your images, the Tiffen Pro100 is a safe investment.