The Black Card Technique - the cheap gradual ND filter alternative

**interested_observer** · 06-26-2016, 12:57 PM

You Tube

You Tube

Edgar_in_Indy · 06-26-2016, 01:57 PM

That's a pretty cool technique, thanks for sharing.

biz-engineer · 06-26-2016, 02:41 PM

Great idea. Could be used in combination with multi-exposure mode of Pentax cameras.

vonBaloney · 06-26-2016, 03:12 PM - **1 Like**

Ha. Kids today. Things like that are second nature to those used to dodging and burning in the darkroom...

**Kerrowdown** · 07-02-2016, 12:21 PM

Aye... this is just "digital" dodging.

stevebrot · 07-02-2016, 01:35 PM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

Ha. Kids today. Things like that are second nature to those used to dodging and burning in the darkroom...

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

Aye... this is just "digital" dodging.

It works with film photography too, though without the immediate feedback and pretty much limited to SLR photography. I am not sure, but I seem to remember seeing such a technique in a book many years ago.

Steve

**Kerrowdown** · 07-02-2016, 01:52 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

It works with film photography too

Aye remember doing it back in the dark days long ago and as you say waiting to find in dev if you got it right or not.

Film seemed more forgiving with these types of techniques, or maybe that's the old memory play tricks on me.

vonBaloney · 07-02-2016, 06:17 PM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

Film seemed more forgiving with these types of techniques, or maybe that's the old memory play tricks on me.

With negative film, if you were printing yourself, you had to worry about the underexposed shadows, not the highlights. (How I wish digital was like that.) You could almost always burn in the highlights. Reversal/positive slides were more like digital -- blown highlights gone forever...

**Kerrowdown** · 07-03-2016, 12:28 AM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

you had to worry about the underexposed shadows, not the highlights.

That's right it was the other way around compared to today... it all comes flooding back now.

No margin for error at all with reversal film, the exposure had to be spot on.

Kodachrome 25, none of your ISO 204800 then.

pinholecam · 07-03-2016, 04:44 AM

This technique seems more common in Taiwan and China.
I wonder if it has to do with the cost of good GND in the past (and relative income)

It does give the advantage that one can enter the photo for a photo competition where excessive manipulation like HDR/blending is not allowed.

Had a chance to try this just a few weeks back.

K1+M20/4
6 stop ND
Used 2 black 'something' I had to shade off in the shape of the pagoda as best I could.

Tan68 · 07-16-2016, 07:44 AM

I stopped carrying grad ND when I bought the K5

Still, the technique and the way of thinking about taking pictures is useful.

The technique is particularly useful with Canon cameras :^|

07-03-2016, 12:28 AM	#9
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,804	Originally posted by vonBaloney you had to worry about the underexposed shadows, not the highlights. That's right it was the other way around compared to today... it all comes flooding back now. No margin for error at all with reversal film, the exposure had to be spot on. Kodachrome 25, none of your ISO 204800 then. Last edited by Kerrowdown; 07-03-2016 at 12:36 AM.

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06-26-2016, 01:57 PM	#2
Edgar_in_Indy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Indiana, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,685	That's a pretty cool technique, thanks for sharing.

06-26-2016, 02:41 PM	#3
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,225	Great idea. Could be used in combination with multi-exposure mode of Pentax cameras.

06-26-2016, 03:12 PM - 1 Like	#4
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Ha. Kids today. Things like that are second nature to those used to dodging and burning in the darkroom...

07-02-2016, 12:21 PM	#5
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,804	Aye... this is just "digital" dodging.

07-02-2016, 01:35 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by vonBaloney Ha. Kids today. Things like that are second nature to those used to dodging and burning in the darkroom... Originally posted by Kerrowdown Aye... this is just "digital" dodging. It works with film photography too, though without the immediate feedback and pretty much limited to SLR photography. I am not sure, but I seem to remember seeing such a technique in a book many years ago. Steve

07-02-2016, 01:52 PM	#7
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,804	Originally posted by stevebrot It works with film photography too Aye remember doing it back in the dark days long ago and as you say waiting to find in dev if you got it right or not. Film seemed more forgiving with these types of techniques, or maybe that's the old memory play tricks on me.

07-02-2016, 06:17 PM	#8
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Originally posted by Kerrowdown Film seemed more forgiving with these types of techniques, or maybe that's the old memory play tricks on me. With negative film, if you were printing yourself, you had to worry about the underexposed shadows, not the highlights. (How I wish digital was like that.) You could almost always burn in the highlights. Reversal/positive slides were more like digital -- blown highlights gone forever...

07-03-2016, 04:44 AM	#10
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	This technique seems more common in Taiwan and China. I wonder if it has to do with the cost of good GND in the past (and relative income) It does give the advantage that one can enter the photo for a photo competition where excessive manipulation like HDR/blending is not allowed. Had a chance to try this just a few weeks back. K1+M20/4 6 stop ND Used 2 black 'something' I had to shade off in the shape of the pagoda as best I could.

07-16-2016, 07:44 AM	#11
Tan68 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 501	I stopped carrying grad ND when I bought the K5 Still, the technique and the way of thinking about taking pictures is useful. The technique is particularly useful with Canon cameras :^\|

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