The fifth essential creative option is the fader.
The fader (variable neutral density filter) and is an extraordinarily powerful tool for the manual shooter. It offers the ability to eliminate light without having to use any camera settings. This means that you do not have to compromise on your aperture or shutter speed should you wish to eliminate light from your image. The artist simply puts the filter on his lens and rotates it slowly to remove light. You’ll literally see the illumination fading from the scene as you do it.
The Fader
The Fader screws onto your lens and is valuable option for cutting light when needed.
There are varying degrees of density to fit a plethora of lighting needs. Check the specs when purchasing. Some variable neutral density filters go from ND2-ND400 while others go from ND2-ND1000 (reducing even more light).
Choose a fader to fit the size of the end of your lens. Visit the Shop Photography Essentials for size options.
Photography’s most versatile filter
The ‘Fader’ (a variable neutral density filter) is the single most important creative filter a manual shooter can own. Far surpassing any other in options this one tool takes you from the ordinary to the spectacular … by one simple rotation.
Using a Fader takes away light, giving you a world of options that are simply impossible without the device, such as using exceedingly slow shutter speeds on very bright days, or using very large apertures in the bright sun while maintaining very slow shutter speeds.
It allows you to fix any strategic problem your camera’s flash sync speed may cause and set shutter speeds so slow that moving people disappear … in the bright daylight. The fader is (as you can imagine) an essential tool for the creative artist, without it your options are limited, your vision subdued.
How To Use a Fader
Using a fader is easy
Simply put it on your lens and rotate the tool until the desired amount of light has been eliminated. There are even marks on the fader that show how much is being taken away (ranging from a minimum to a maximum setting). There are however, a few nuances regarding the tool that you need to understand before employing one.
Every fader has an apex point, a spot at which it just fails to work as it should. Should you push the fader beyond this point (usually beyond its maximum setting) you’ll start seeing color shifts and notice a bit of banding (dark lines) crossing through your image. It will be obvious when you’ve pushed your fader too far. Keep in mind however, that you will not see the effect until after you’ve taken the photograph.
Focusing through the fader will also prove difficult (for even the most experienced shooter). Since you’re taking away so much light, things are going to get dark in the viewfinder very fast. This makes manual and auto-focus difficult (not impossible, just difficult). No fear however. You can always pre-focus your lens or simply use a small enough aperture to pad your depth of field.
In Review
Using a variable neutral density filter is simple. Screw it onto your lens and rotate the front element. You’ll see the light ‘fade’ away.
Key elements:
- A fader is used to reduce the amount of light entering the lens.
- It is the only tool that can remove light that has nothing to do with the camera.
- You can vary the amount of light being removed by rotating the front element of the fader.
- Most faders have marks that indicate the amount of light (in quarter stops) being removed.
Next: Essential Creative Option #6 – The Polarizer
This is post #7 of 16 of In Camera Magic: The 12 Essential Creative Options, a free online photography course for creating spectacular images right in the camera.