Directive Studios Blogs

List of the filters we use. UV, Polarizer, ND Filters, Grad Filters and more. 

Lee Filters 100 x 100mm Big Stopper

Lee Filters 100 x 100mm Big Stopper

Need a way to Increase your exposure length? Look no further. This Lee Filter is designed with high quality optical glass that provides a 10-stop reduction in your exposure. This will help you gain even more control over your aperture and depth of field. An awesome addition to the camera bag for any landscape shots with a lot of light.  B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/686370-REG/LEE_Filters_10_STOP_GLASS_4X4_4_x_4_Big.html

LEE Filters 4 x 4" Big Stopper Filter

LEE Filters 4 x 4" Big Stopper Filter

By greatly extending exposure times the Big Stopper has the effect of allowing anything that is moving in your image to become blurred or ghost like, for example clouds, waterfalls, rivers, and the sea. The filter can also be used on cityscapes to blur people or on roads and motorways to blur traffic. This filter requires the Lee Filter System/ Manufactures Site: http://www.leefilters.com/index.php/camera/bigstopper B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/686370-REG/LEE_Filters_10_STOP_GLASS_4X4_4_x_4_Big.html Here's a few samples images from Lee:

Heliopan 82mm Circular Polarizer Multi-Coated (SH-PMC) Filter

Heliopan 82mm Circular Polarizer Multi-Coated (SH-PMC) Filter

I'm planning on getting some fall foliage shots on an upcoming trip to California (and in Upstate NY), we'll be hitting up pacific highway 1, yosemite national park, san fran and the mojave desert and a polarizer is a great filter when used properly. I'll be also using it to cut down glare on water and get more saturation with certain shots. If you're looking for one, just remember for a digital DSLR you want a Circular Polarizer. I'm so pleased with my Variable ND Heliopan filter I chose them again.  I haven't even got to shoot with it yet so I will update this if something noteworthy happens. Heliopan website: http://www.heliopan.de/produkte/polarisationsfilter/ B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/232513-REG/Heliopan_708246_82mm_Circular_Polarizer_Multi_Coated.html  

Lee Filter System

Lee Filter System

The Lee Filter System is required to use the 100mm Lee Filters and Graduated Filters. The high quality construction of this product is well known. I love the way it works and the control it gives me when using graduated filters is awesome. I can easily adjust the gradual filter effect to get it right on the horizon of a landscape shot for example. I know you can do it in After Effects but I really like getting it as close as I can in camera. B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/87108-REG/LEE_Filters_FK_Foundation_Kit_Standard_4x4.html Lee Filters: http://www.leefilters.com/index.php/camera/system#system-what Below are two photos I took using the graduated filters.      

Heliopan 82mm Variable Gray ND Filter

Heliopan 82mm Variable Gray ND Filter

This variable ND filter from Heliopan is great for photography and shooting video. I primarily got it to shoot with a greater depth of field in bright sunlight when shooting video.  The markings are very helpful and the quality is amazing. I've only played with a couple other filters, but this one wins hands down so far. I also got a step up ring for my 77mm lenses and it works great. I haven't got to use it a lot yet because somehow I bent the step up ring. Just ordered another today.  B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/829300-REG/Heliopan_708290_82mm_Variable_Gray_ND.html Heliopan Website: http://www.heliopan.de/produkte/graufilter/ I read about it the first time from Philip Bloom (He's an awesome Director, DP and Fimmaker in the UK): http://philipbloom.net/2011/06/04/the-best-variable-nd-filter-i-have-used/

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