Park Flare

[questor]

I picked up an inexpensive vivitar variable ND filter a couple of days ago and decided to play around with it to see how it effects bright day shots.  Well I found it if flares very badly if the sun is in any position towards the lens, but I kinda like the effect for certain shots.

1.
Park flare by questor886, on Flickr

[DigitalScape]

I also like the flare in some images.  This filter gives you some creativity options.

[motleypixel]

I'm with John...it's fun in some applications/situations.  Curious, are you using a vari-nd just for stills outside or for video?

I bought a vari-nd for outside video and I did some test with stills and it took some IQ from my stills, but for video it worked well.  I'll have to find if I did some tests and posted them and come back and link it here.

I find that Lee or Hitech ND or GND filters (4X6) are the best when it comes to landscape stills, preferably GND filters.

[motleypixel]

Found it, samples posted and this LightCraft VND is supposedly of very good quality:  http://www.motleypixel.com/forum/index.php/topic,537.0.html  I still use it for shallow DOF in bright daylight for video.

[questor]

I'm with John...it's fun in some applications/situations.  Curious, are you using a vari-nd just for stills outside or for video?

I bought a vari-nd for outside video and I did some test with stills and it took some IQ from my stills, but for video it worked well.  I'll have to find if I did some tests and posted them and come back and link it here.

I find that Lee or Hitech ND or GND filters (4X6) are the best when it comes to landscape stills, preferably GND filters.

I'm actually using it for stills. I don't do the video thing. It was very much an impulse buy since the price was low and it is a nine stop variable. I've been wanting to play around with one without the usual high price for the better quality ones. Getting a good GND is on my list of items to pick up in the near future.
I believe this shot was around 2-3pm at f-18, and about 3seconds with the filter cranked to full.

[questor]

I also like the flare in some images.  This filter gives you some creativity options.

Yep I plan on having some fun with it.