Reverse ND Grads help Dave Hutchison find the right balance for dramatic sunset images

Although Dave Hutchison was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, he's been a resident of Vancouver Island for the past 10 years. "I became seriously interested in outdoor photography about 5 years ago and I am still discovering all the benefits of living in one of the world's most scenic areas.

"In my efforts to promote nature conservation through photography, I am also discovering the benefits of using Singh-Ray filters for optimum results whenever I'm shooting landscapes. Here are two recent examples of how the Reverse Graduated ND filter helped me capture the full range of exposure levels in a single shot by holding back the intense light of the sun at sunset. I captured the photo above at Chesterman Beach in Tofino, BC, and the image below at Florencia Bay in Ucluelet, BC. Both locations are about 5 hours drive from my home in Sidney, BC.  Florencia Bay is part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

"With both the 3-stop and 4-stop 'reverse ND’s' in my camera bag at all times, I strive to get the image 'right' in camera. I handhold my graduated filters and sometimes gently move the filter during the exposure to further 'soften' the transition along the horizon. I also use the Live View option on my Nikon D700 to assist in positioning all of my ND Grads. I find that I can control the transition area better on the 3-inch EVF screen and still be able to look around the scene for other compositions. I always use a remote shutter release to help reduce any vibrations."

Dave communicates his love of nature through his fine-art images sold for homes, offices, gift shops and galleries across Canada. He also sells his art cards and prints through a national distributor. He will be offering three-day workshops in the Tofino/Ucluelet areas next spring. You can learn more about these workshops and see more images on Dave's website. You'll also find him on Facebook.