I have always been fascinated by Long Exposure Photography. It is a style of photography that makes the water and clouds look smooth and silky. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not attracted to it in a weird way. Well, maybe a little . . .

Anyway, to do this style of photography, you need a very strong ND filter. The strongest and best quality ND filter I knew of was the Lee Big Stopper. But this filter is always out of stock. Always! And I can only buy camera gear on impulse. I can’t wait for six months for the mailman to deliver that powerful Big Stopper. So instead of waiting and spending an extra $150 on mounts, I impulsively ordered the Light Craft Workshop ND500 MC+H.R.C 82mm. It’s not as strong as the Lee ND, but it’s close enough. It’s a 9-stop ND filter, which is good enough for now. I would have liked one more stop because I ended up with a 30-second exposure and an f19-f22 in the midday sun. I would have preferred an f16 or lower, but at least with this ND filter, I can still see through my viewfinder to frame the shot. It’s hard, but it’s possible. And if I want to go darker, I can always add another ND.

I just got this Light Craft Workshop ND filter, so I’m going to test it more and write a better review later. A real review. But so far, it seems to be a great alternative to the Lee Big Stopper and I’m happy with my purchase. Screw-on filters are more convenient and cheaper.

Here is my first photo from my first try with this filter.

Today’s Long Exposure Photo

This was taken with a 30-second shutter at an f19 and an ISO of 100. This is the Venice Beach Pier in Los Angeles California.