Kase Magnetic Filters

May 18, 2023

Shortly before leaving for Spain in late March I received a package with the Kase Magnetic Revolution ND Kit on my doorstep! I had heard great things about these filters and I was so excited to bring these filters along on my trip. Although this trip was family (not photography) focused, I knew I would be capturing the sights and experiences of our trip and hopefully even get out for a couple sunrises or sunsets.

The Revolution Kit is perfect for me as it includes all of the filters that I use in my work. This kit includes a circular polarizer, 3 stop ND filer, 6 stop ND filter, 10 stop ND filter, and the ring for the filters to attach to the lens. All of these come in a compact filter case. An added bonus that I am really excited about is a magnetic front lens cap. This is a great addition because it means I can cover up and protect the filter when I’m taking a break or moving to a new spot. In the past, I have always had to remove the filter to put on a lens cap.

Another thing I love about these filters is that in addition to the written label on the filter ring to distinguish between the filters, they are also color coded, making it so much easier to grab the filter that I want to use. The 3 stop ND filter is Blue, 6 stop is yellow, the 10 stop is red, and the polarizer ring is silver. For someone whose eyesight is diminishing with age, it is extra helpful to have a way to differentiate the filters without having to try to read the fine print, especially in low light! When trying to grab the right filter as the light is quickly fading or changing, being able to easily identify the one I need means that I don’t miss the shot fumbling with gear.

Most importantly, in addition to being easy to use, their quality is fantastic. The color is neutral so they don’t add a color cast to my images. Also, with this magnetic set, there is a magnetic inlaid ring hidden inside the lens screw thread to improve and minimize vignetting.

I used the filters singularly and stacked during my trip to Spain and was so happy with the results.

30 seconds with the 10 stop neutral density filter in Malaga, Spain

.6 second exposure with the 6 stop Neutral Density filter and using intentional camera movement

Using the circular polarizer to reduce glare and enhance the colors on this gorgeous sunny day in Ronda, Spain

These filters are incredibly easy to stack when you want to use a polarizer and ND filter or to stack more than one ND filter to block more light like in this image below where I stacked the 10 stop and 3 stop neutral density filters to get a 3 minute exposure of these clouds.

After Spain, I traveled to South Carolina in mid April to host my Magic in Hilton Head ladies retreat. This filter kit was a dream to use while on the beaches of Hilton Head Island.

1/2 second exposure with the 6 stop ND filter

I cannot recommend this filter set enough. Have questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m happy to share any information I can.

Kristen Ryan is an award winning and published landscape photographer and educator residing in the Midwest suburbs of Chicago. All images are available for purchase in the Fine Art Store or by request. Kristen leads ladies landscape photography retreats in the Tetons, Glacier NP, Hilton Head, Chicago, and the Canadian Rockies, offers private mentoring .

4 Ways To Use Shutter Speed For Creative Seascapes

May 16, 2022

There is something truly magical about the ocean! The movement and sound of the waves crashing along the shore is mesmerizing. The ocean is one of my favorite subjects to photograph because getting creative with shutter speed can keep me experimenting for hours.

There are 4 ways I used shutter speed to create different effects with my seascapes!

1) Fast Shutter Speed - Sometimes the texture of the crashing or cresting waves grabs my eye and instead of softening the water, I want to emphasize the texture and power of the ocean by freezing the movement with a fast shutter speed.

1/2000s shutter speed to freeze the motion of the crashing wave. Photographed at 360mm with the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary Lens.

2. Slow Shutter - One of my favorite shutter speed choices with ocean waves is in the range of .4 seconds to 2 seconds. In this range, the movement of the water is softened somewhat but texture and shape is still evident. With these shutter speeds, the look of the water can change with just small changes in exposure length.

With these shutter speed ranges, a 6 stop ND filter is my go to choice and a tripod is necessary for keeping the camera stable.

1/4 second exposure capturing the movement and texture in the crashing waves

3) Much Longer Exposures - A third creative choice photographing the ocean is to use much longer exposures to smooth out the water completely and create a really soft and dreamy look. Here I am referring to shutter speeds generally of 10 seconds and longer. When we get even longer, with shutter speeds of 30 seconds and more for example, we also get the benefit of getting dreamy movement in the clouds too. When I photograph exposures from 10 to 30 seconds, a 10 stop filter is my go to ND filter. If working in bright daylight hours, more than 10 stops may need to be blocked to get 30 seconds or longer. In these situations, I will use a 15 stop filter or stack filters to extend the time. Be sure to make sure your tripod is stable for these longer exposures. If the water flows up over the legs, it can move just enough to blur the image.

15 second exposure for a dreamy and soft feel in the water

4) Intentional Camera Movement - the fourth way I love to shutter speed creatively is to combine a slower shutter speed with intentional camera movement. This movement creates an abstract and painterly feel to the ocean. My preferred shutter speed range for ICM is .5 seconds to 1 second because it allows me to control if I move fast or slow as well as how much I move the camera over this time period. I generally use a 6 stop ND filter to get my shutter speed in this range. If I am without a filter, it is possible to use intentional camera movement with somewhat faster shutter speeds with success and I don’t hesitate to do so. I simply prefer the .5s to 1 second range . Check out Seascape Panning for more information on using this technique.

1/4 second of intentional camera movement with the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary Lens at 220mm

Experimenting with all these different ways of photographing the water can keep me busy with the ocean for hours! Can’t wait to get back there again!

The Neutral Density Filter I use to photograph long exposures are from Breakthrough Photography.**

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8 Tips for Capturing Fall Colors

October 3, 2020

Autumn is here and it is a glorious season! I wanted to share some tips for capturing all things fall. With its crisp air and golden foliage, autumn is the perfect time to get out on the trails or take a drive through nature with your camera. The light and colors of fall offer so many opportunities regardless of weather. Here are some technical and creative tips to consider while you capture the season.

1) Emphasize Color - Obviously the first thing that comes to mind when we think of autumn is color. The autumn colors of yellow, orange and gold shine in sunlight and contrast so beautifully with a vibrant blue sky. When photographing the color, it can be effective to isolate the golden color and fill the frame with the beautiful fall colors. Or mix the golden colors with blue of skies or water to create stunning depth and striking contrast.

The warmth of the orange trees contrast with the cool tones of the mountains and blue sky in Grand Teton National Park.

The mix of yellow, orange and red drew my eye right into this scene.

2) Get out in Golden Hour - The golden hour light adds a beautiful warmth to all scenes but the way it makes autumn colors glow is just magical. Get out early for sunrise or at the end of day for sunset. A benefit is that during this season, the sunrise is getting later in the morning and sunset earlier in the evenings.

The setting sun lights the tips of the Tetons and illuminates the fall foliage in the foreground.

3) Grab a Telephoto Lens - A telephoto lens is a perfect choice for capturing details and intimate landscapes. Longer focal lengths can bring you closer to far away scenes or they can isolate details that get lost in the grander scene. A macro lens is also great for capturing details of closer subjects.

Captured from the parking lot at Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park, a 260mm focal length with my Sigma 150-600 allowed me to isolate this beautiful hillside of fall color.

4) Consider Abstract - Consider using a slow shutter speed and intentional camera movement to create abstract images of the fall trees and foliage. Experiment with various focal lengths and with faster and slower movement for different looks. Use a vertical movement with trees. Try zoom blur for an intriguing look. For zoom blur, try a 1 second shutter speed starting at one focal length and twist through the focal lengths while the shutter is open.

Intentional Camera Movement in a grove of Aspens in Wyoming. A 1 second shutter speed with very slow movement created this painterly effect while maintaining some detail of the scene.

5) Bring A Polarizing Filter - I always keep a polarizing filter in my bag and I love it in the fall. A polarizer will cut glare and enhance the vibrance of the fall colors and blue sky. Be careful with wide angle lenses as the polarizing effect is inconsistent across the frame with wide angles.

6) Embrace a Mix of Seasons - The full glow of autumn is stunning but the clash of the seasons can also create wonderfully compelling images. Whether this is a golden tree glowing amongst a sea of green or an early snow that provides a mix of autumn and winter, embrace the atmosphere.

Immediately following peak fall color one year, a stunning snowfall clung to the trees. I used a 200mm focal length to isolate the details and clashing of winter and fall.

A single tree glows with gold amongst the green

7) Look for Reflections - Reflections are a favorite of mine to look for in all seasons, but especially in the fall. Colorful foliage reflecting in the water of lakes and ponds adds additional color and pop to any autumn scene. Look for reflections on days with minimal wind. Early mornings or late evening are the best time to find calm waters.

Fall colors reflect in the Snake River at Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park Sept 2020.

8) All Weather brings unique opportunities! Sunny days offer beautiful blue skies to contrast with the golden color. The sun brings out the glow of autumn colors. Consider closing down your aperture to create a sunburst through the trees or in the sky.

The sun shines through the East Woods at Morton Arboretum on a perfect autumn day.

Stormy weather creates incredible atmosphere and dark storm clouds create a beautiful contrast with the warmth of red, yellow and orange fall foliage.

The stormy clouds create a dramatic atmosphere behind the Tetons as they contrast with the warmth of the golden trees and grasses in the foreground.

Overcast weather may hinder grand landscape opportunities but is an excellent opportunity to seek out waterfalls, rivers or streams for long exposure photography. The lack of bright sun eliminates dappled highlights and the soft lighting allows you to push vibrance of the fall colors in post processing. I always have a polarizer and a 6 stop ND filter with me when I shoot waterfalls and rushing water. I shared about one of my favorite tools, the X4 CPL by Breakthrough Photography, in this blog post.

A slow shutter speed captured the soft flow of the waterfall and a polarizer cuts the glare on the foreground leaves.

Hope these tips help you take advantage of the beauty of autumn. It is a wonderful time of year to get out and photograph all the days have to offer!

Kristen Ryan is an award winning and published landscape and fine art photographer and educator residing in the Midwest suburbs of Chicago. All images are available for purchase in the Fine Art Store or by request. Kristen leads ladies landscape photography retreats in the Tetons, Chicago, and the Canadian Rockies, offers private mentoring and teaches an online landscape photography workshop, The World Around You.

My Favorite Tool for Waterfall Photography

August 13, 2020

It’s no secret that long exposures are one of my very favorite techniques to use in my photography. Whether I’m photographing the movement of water or clouds, I will pull out my Breakthrough Photography * Neutral Density filters to slow my shutter speed a little, or quite a lot! Waterfalls are one location that I love to photograph with long exposures to create that ethereal mood of flowing water.

One tool that is invaluable to me when photographing waterfalls, as well as many other water scenes, is Breakthrough Photography’s X4 Dark CPL 6 Stop Filter. What is this filter, you ask? It is basically a circular polarizer and 6 stop neutral density filter in one!

Combining these two filters into one is genius in my opinion! When shooting waterfalls, both the circular polarizer and 6 stop neutral density filter are important for capturing my vision. A polarizer will cut glare from the water and intensify the colors in the environment surrounding the waterfall. The 6 stop ND filter will block light from the sensor so that I can slow my shutter speed to create the smooth flow I desire.

Hidden Falls Kristen Ryan Photography.jpg

Having these two filters combined as one simplifies my set up process since I only need to put on one filter. Additionally, each filter you add is one more layer of glass that you have to check for dust and spots before shooting. So one filter instead of two means less layers of potential distracting elements getting in front of your sensor. I always carry the X4 Dark CPL 6 Stop Filter in my filter case and I highly recommend you add one to yours.

Read about more about Circular Polarizers here and How to Choose a Neutral Density Filter here.

5 Tips for Capturing Beautiful Reflections

April 15, 2020

One of the most compelling elements you can include in landscape imagery is a strong reflection. Reflections add interest, often create symmetry and help to add depth in a simple scene. Reflections are a great way to capture a more intriguing image when the skies are uncooperative, such as full overcast or completely clear.

Calm waters in Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park as the sun sets and moon rises.

You can find reflections in any water source that is still such as a pond, lake, calm area of a river, a puddle, or even the wet sand along the shore. Reflections of mountains, trees, city buildings and skies are all compelling subjects to find reflections of in your scenery.

Some tips for finding and capturing the best reflections and most compelling images:

1) Find Calm Water ~Calm water is a necessity for the clearest reflections. Smaller and shallower bodies of water will often be easiest to find calm water though even larger and deeper lakes can be calm enough for clear reflections if you catch them at the right times. Early morning or later evening will often be the best times for finding calm water. Check your weather forecast and choose days and times with low wind.

Pretty calm waters at Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park. The 10 second exposure smoothed the water a bit.

2) Consider the light ~ The best reflections will be captured when the light is behind you and a bit to the right or left. With that in mind, be aware of how the sun can cast a shadow of your body into the scene. Unless you are going for a shadow self portrait, then go right ahead 😊

Calm waters in the Snake River with the sunrise light behind me.

Calm morning waters at Lake Marmo at Morton Arboretum with the sun behind me.

3) Find the best perspective ~ Sometimes the the reflection is obvious in the scene but other times the best reflection can take a little exploring angle and perspective. Get low and see if you can get more reflection than at eye level. It’s also important to consider how you are composing the scene to avoid chopping your main subject AND its reflection in an awkward way. Be sure to leave comfortable space above the subject and below its reflection.

The reflection of the sky and clouds in the wet sand and very shallow waters at Cannon Beach in Oregon is enhanced by my low perspective very close to the sand. Getting low also helps to add depth in the image.

4) Consider using a Graduated Neutral Density filter - The reflection is often much darker than the subject above. A graduated neutral density filter can reduce the exposure of the top of the frame to neutralize the dynamic range so you can better expose the shadowed reflection. This is especially the true in a situation where the sun is setting behind your subject and not illuminating the reflection such as in the Teton images above.

5) Experiment with long exposures ~ If the water is a bit rippled and the reflection is lacking, shooting a long exposure will smooth the water and sometimes bring out a hint of reflection as well.

This sunset at Oxbow Bend had an incredibly beautiful reflection for evening. The water was nice and calm. This is a situation where a GND could help to decrease exposure on the sky a few stops and allow the foreground to be exposed brighter without… — This sunset at Oxbow Bend had an incredibly beautiful reflection for evening. The water was nice and calm. This is a situation where a GND could help to decrease exposure on the sky a few stops and allow the foreground to be exposed brighter without overexposing the sky.

In this scene, the water was extremely choppy from the wind in the late afternoon on a blustery November day. The 30 second exposure brought out some reflection of the mountain in Bow Lake.

I hope these tips help you capture stunning reflections in your local scenery and in your travels. If you’re looking to purchase filters for creative effects including long exposures, my go to filters are from Breakthrough Photography *. They are great quality and do not add a color cast.

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When, Why & How to Use a Circular Polarizer

February 17, 2020

One of the top filters used by landscape photographers is a circular polarizer. This filter screws on to the end of your lens and twists to create a polarizing effect. What does this mean exactly? Think about looking at a scene with your naked eye and then putting on a pair of sunglasses. Notice the way the glare is diminished and colors are enhanced? That is what the polarizing filter does for the view your camera will capture.

Image colors and sky enhanced by using a circular polarizer.

Why would you want to use a polarizer? Here are a few desirable ways the polarizer will impact your landscape imagery:

Enhance color and contrast in the sky - Using a polarizer will turn light blue skies to deep blue skies. It will add beautiful contrast to daytime skies and bring out the definition in the clouds against the blue sky.
Reduce unwanted glare & reflections -In reducing some of the rays of light, the polarizer reduces glare and reflections. This is extremely beneficial when working in scenes with water. Using a polarizer helps to bring a crispness and remove glare from foliage allowing the colors to shine.
Cuts through haze - In some cases, polarizers can help with hazy skies and scenes. Details and colors will be enhanced.

When purchasing a circular polarizer, it is important to buy one that fits the diameter of your lens. For example, many of my Nikon lenses are 77mm in diameter, so I have a 77mm circular polarizer that fits those lenses. If you have lenses of varying diameters you can purchase step up rings to use a bigger filter with lenses of smaller diameters. For example I have an 82mm filter that fits my Sony 16-35mm lens and I use a 67mm step up rings to use the same filter with my 24-70 lens.

How do you use a polarizing filter?

To use a polarizing filter, you screw the filter onto the end of the lens. There is a second ring on the filter that twists to create the polarizing effect. As you twist, you can see the change in your scene. Twist until you get the desired result. It is important to note that the polarizer works best facing 90 degrees from the sun. So sun at your left or right when you are shooting. Be careful with wide angle lenses too as the polarizing effect will be inconsistent through the frame and you can end up with a sky that is really dark in some areas and less so in others.

It’s also important to keep in mind that because the polarizer blocks some rays of the sun, it reduces the exposure by a stop or two. You will want to account for this exposure change by reducing the shutter speed, increasing ISO or opening up the aperture.

When might you want to use a circular polarizer?

Photographing Waterfalls - Polarizers are an invaluable tool for waterfall photography. The polarizer will help cut glare off the water and enhance the colors of the surrounding scenery. See the two examples of this small waterfall at Waterfall Glen in Illinois. You can see very clearly the way the polarizer helped cut the glare on the leaves in the foreground and allowed its autumn color to shine.

2. Daytime photography - Daytime photography is a perfect time to pull out the circular polarizer. Enhance the colors of the landscape and bring out the definition of white puffy clouds again the blue sky.

3. Shooting through glass - If for any reason you are shooting through glass, the polarizer will help to cut out the glare and reflections.

A circular polarizer is a great tool to have in your bag for landscape photography. I have used several different brands of polarizers over the years but my current go to polarizer is by Breakthrough Photography *.

Have any questions about polarizers or other filters, feel free to reach out!

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