Sunglasses for Your Camera: How to Take Better Outdoor Photos using ND Filters

Ben Gifford
Aug 22
2 min read

When shooting outdoors, bright sunlight can sometimes ruin your perfect shot. That’s where Neutral Density (ND) filters come in. They're a great tool for how to get better outdoor photos. Whether you’re capturing landscapes, waterfalls, or cinematic video, ND filters help you control light without sacrificing image quality. Let’s break down what ND filters are, why they matter, and how you can use them to instantly improve your outdoor photography and video.

What Is an ND Filter?

An ND filter is like sunglasses for your camera. It reduces the amount of light that enters your lens without changing the colors of your scene. This allows you to use slower shutter speeds or wider apertures, even in bright daylight.

For example:

Without an ND filter: shooting a waterfall at noon may look harsh and overexposed.
With an ND filter: you can use a slower shutter speed to blur the water into a silky smooth effect.

Why Use an ND Filter for Photography

Motion Blur: Perfect for waterfalls, rivers, and traffic trails.
Balanced Exposure: Capture landscapes with both the sky and ground properly exposed.
Shallow Depth of Field in Bright Light: Shoot wide open (f/1.8 or f/2.8) outdoors without overexposing.

Types of ND Filters

There are a few different kinds of ND filters:

Fixed ND Filters – A single level of light reduction (e.g., ND8, ND64). Great for consistency.
Variable ND Filters – Adjustable strength, letting you fine-tune exposure on the fly (popular for videographers).
Graduated ND Filters – Darker on top and clear on bottom, often used in landscapes to balance a bright sky with a darker foreground.

Why Use an ND Filter for Video

Videographers love ND filters because of the 180-degree shutter rule. To achieve natural motion blur, your shutter speed should be about double your frame rate (e.g., 1/50 for 24fps). Without an ND filter, this isn’t possible outdoors—your footage will look choppy or blown out.

An ND filter lets you lock in cinematic settings, even in harsh sunlight.

Tips for Using ND Filters

Stack Carefully: Avoid stacking multiple filters; it can cause vignetting.
Use Quality Glass: Cheap filters may reduce image sharpness.
Check for Color Casts: Some ND filters add a slight tint—fixable in editing, but higher-end filters minimize this.
Invest in Sizes You Use Most: Or use step-up rings to make one filter fit multiple lenses.

An ND filter is one of the most valuable accessories you can add to your camera bag. It gives you creative control over light, helps you capture cinematic video, and elevates your outdoor photography. If you’ve struggled with harsh daylight or overexposed shots, an ND filter might just be the missing piece in your setup.