Using Graduated ND Filters for Balanced Landscapes
By NiSi Filters Australia | Published: 2026-10-19
Category: Product Reviews
Learn how to use graduated ND filters to balance exposure in landscape photography. Step-by-step guide for hard and medium GND filters.
Quick Answer
A graduated ND filter lets you darken the sky without affecting the foreground, fixing the exposure mismatch that often ruins landscape photos.
Hard vs. Medium Graduated Filters
Hard-edge GNDs suit scenes with a flat horizon, like seascapes or open fields, where the sky meets the land in a clean line. Medium-edge GNDs work better when elements like buildings or mountains break the horizon, because the softer transition hides the filter line.
Choose a 2-stop (ND4) or 3-stop (ND8) filter based on the brightness difference between sky and foreground. A bright sky over a dark valley might need 3 stops, while a cloudy day may only need 2.
How to Use a Graduated ND Filter in the Field
- Step 1: Meter the sky and foreground separately: Switch your camera to spot or center-weighted metering. Point at the brightest part of the sky and note the shutter speed, then point at the darkest part of the foreground and note that speed. The difference in stops tells you how strong a filter you need. Common mistake: metering the whole scene with evaluative metering, which averages the reading and hides the true exposure gap.
- Step 2: Mount the filter and slide it into position: Attach your NiSi 100mm filter holder to the lens. Insert the graduated ND filter into the slot closest to the lens. Loosen the holder's locking screw so you can slide the filter up or down. Position the transition line exactly where the horizon or skyline sits in your frame. Checkpoint: use live view or the depth-of-field preview button to see the filter line. If the transition is visible on a broken horizon, switch to a medium-edge filter.
- Step 3: Take a test shot and adjust: Take a photo at your chosen aperture and ISO. Review the histogram: the sky and foreground peaks should be closer together than without the filter. If the sky is still too bright, try a stronger filter or stack a second graduated ND. If the foreground is too dark, reduce the filter strength or use a slower shutter speed. Common mistake: forgetting to recompose after sliding the filter. The transition line can shift if you move the camera, so recheck the position before each shot.
NiSi Graduated ND Filters at a Glance
- NiSi 100x150mm Nano IR Hard Graduated Neutral Density Filter – GND4 (0.6) – 2 Stop: True to life color, No color cast. Perfect to balance the exposure when scenes have a sudden transition from the foreground to the sky. The hard-edge design is ideal for seascapes or flat horizons where you need a crisp boundary between the darker sky and brighter foreground.
NiSi 100x150mm Nano IR Hard Graduated Neutral Density Filter – GND4 (0.6) – 2 Stop - NiSi 100x150mm Nano IR Medium Graduated Neutral Density Filter – ND8 (0.9) – 3 Stop: True to life color, No color cast. Perfect to balance the exposure when buildings, small mountains, and other elements protrude into the skyline. The medium-edge transition hides the filter line behind irregular horizons, so you don't get a visible dark band across your composition.
NiSi 100x150mm Nano IR Medium Graduated Neutral Density Filter – ND8 (0.9) – 3 Stop
