Use clouds to complement your foreground. If the clouds are moving horizontally, blur them to match horizontal layers in your composition. If the clouds are moving towards you, match them with a foreground containing converging lines.
@ Dylan Toh Shot with NiSi GND 8 + ND 64
Use smooth water to complement rocky textures. Long exposures of seascapes and waterfalls are good examples where the smoothened water will give good contrast to sharp and craggy rocks.
@ Dylan Toh Shot with NiSi Medium GND 8 + CPL
Consider blending shorter exposures without an ND filter attached when there are moving elements. The most common situation where this tip applies is when shooting waterfalls. Often surrounding foliage will be moving which if blurred, can create a distraction within your composition.
@ Dylan Toh Shot with NiSi Landscape CPL
Use the right strength of ND filter to create the effect that is desired for your composition. For instance, with fast moving low cloud an exposure duration of 30 seconds or less may be sufficient to create streaking clouds. For slow moving high cloud, you may well require an exposure duration of several minutes to achieve the same effect.
@ Dylan Toh Shot with NiSi Medium GND 8 + ND 1000
Experiment with a few fast shutter speed images without the ND filter attached in order to obtain your best composition before using the ND filter for a long exposure. This is especially important during changing light when you may well only have one opportunity for a long exposure before the light fades.
NiSi Filters V6 Filter Holder System Review and How to Use
by Dylan Toh
