Graduated ND Filters or Multiple Exposures: Which is Best for Landscape Photography?

When photographing landscapes with a bright sky and darker foreground, it’s not always easy to capture the full dynamic range in a single frame. That’s where Graduated Neutral Density (GND) filters and multiple exposures come into play; two common techniques that help balance light in challenging scenes.

At first glance, using a GND filter may seem like the faster, simpler solution. And in many cases, it is. But when the horizon is uneven, like with jagged mountains or tall trees, a GND can actually do more harm than good. On the other hand, blending multiple exposures gives you full control in post-processing, but it takes more time and effort.

So, which approach is best?

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at both techniques, compare their strengths and weaknesses, and explore when to use each one in the field. You’ll also find example images and tips to help you decide which method best suits your style and workflow.

What is a Graduated Neutral Density Filter?

A Graduated Neutral Density (GND) filter is a partially darkened filter designed to balance the exposure of an image, most often by darkening a bright sky while leaving the landscape untouched.

These filters come in various strengths (like 1-stop, 2-stop, or 3-stop) and with different transition types:

• Soft edge: gentle, gradual transition, great for uneven horizons
• Hard edge: abrupt transition, ideal for flat horizons like seascapes
• Medium edge: a balance between the two, often the most versatile
• Reverse grad: darker in the center and fades upward, useful for sunrise and sunset

You slide the filter into a holder (typically on a square or rectangular system) and position the transition to match your horizon. When used in the right conditions, a GND filter allows you to capture a well-balanced image in a single exposure, eliminating the need for exposure blending or additional post-processing.

Recommended Reading: Introduction to Graduated Neutral Density Filters 

What is “Multiple Exposure for Better Dynamic Range”?

Multiple exposure bracketing is a technique where you capture a series of images at different exposure levels, usually one normal exposure, one underexposed (to protect highlights), and one overexposed (to bring out shadow detail).

This approach allows you to capture the entire dynamic range of a scene, especially in situations where one part of the image is very bright and another is very dark.

Once you’ve captured the bracketed images, they’re blended together in post-processing using tools like:

• Lightroom’s HDR Merge (fast but less control)
• Photoshop exposure blending
• Luminosity Masks in Photoshop (for maximum control over which tones appear where)

This method gives you much more flexibility than a single exposure and avoids the problem of darkening elements that rise above the horizon, something GND filters often struggle with.

Recommended Reading: Post-Processing for Landscape Photography: The Complete Guide

Graduated ND Filters or Multiple Exposures: Which Should You Use?

So, which method is best?

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Both Graduated Neutral Density filters and exposure bracketing have their strengths, and the better choice depends entirely on the scene, subject, and style of photography you’re working with.

If the horizon is flat and uncluttered, a GND filter can help you capture a perfectly exposed image in-camera, with no need for blending later. But in scenes with mountains, trees, or other objects rising into the sky, using a GND can create unwanted darkening, and that’s when multiple exposures shine.

Let’s look at when each technique works best, starting with GND filters.

When to Use Graduated Neutral Density Filters

Graduated ND filters are a great solution for balancing the exposure between a bright sky and a darker foreground, especially when the transition is simple and clean.

I personally use GNDs frequently, not just for the look they create, but also because they enable me to work faster in the field and reduce post-processing time. They’re especially useful when the light is changing quickly, such as at sunrise or sunset.

Here are a few examples of when a GND filter works well:

• When you want to minimize editing and capture a strong image straight out of the camera
• Scenes with a flat or gently sloped horizon, such as oceans, beaches, open fields, or distant hills
• When you’re shooting directly toward the sunset and want to darken only the upper portion of the frame

Example of When to Use Graduated ND Filters

Take a look at the image below; the mountains project slightly above the horizon, but it’s still manageable. In this case, a Medium or Soft Edge GND is the right tool. A Hard Edge filter would darken the mountains and top part of the chimney unnaturally, but with the right transition, the effect remains subtle and natural.

The image below shows another situation where you can use a Graduated ND filter; in this case, a hard-edge would work just as well as any other. Because no elements project above the horizon, we don’t have to worry about unnaturally darkening any unwanted subjects.

GND filters aren’t perfect, but when used in the right conditions, they offer an elegant, fast solution to a common exposure challenge.

Are Graduated ND Filters Still Worth it?

Many photographers today ask, “Are GND filters still worth it?” The short answer is yes. When used in the right conditions, they can dramatically reduce editing time and help you capture a balanced exposure straight out of the camera. Even in the age of bracketing and powerful editing tools, GND filters remain a fast, reliable solution in the field.

If you’re looking for the best GND filter for landscape photography, I strongly recommend the NiSi Medium Graduated ND Filter (read my review here). It’s the most versatile option for real-world use and works well with a variety of scenes; from flat seascapes to rolling hills.

When to Use Multiple Exposures to Capture the Dynamic Range

Multiple exposures are the better choice when the scene contains complex elements that extend above the horizon, such as mountains, trees, cliffs, or buildings. In these situations, a Graduated ND Filter will also darken those elements, which can lead to unnatural contrast, loss of detail, or even blocked shadows.

Notice how the cliffs rise unevenly across the horizon in the image above. If a GND filter were used here, the sky would be darkened, but so would the upper portions of the mountains, resulting in a muddy, unrealistic look.

In the image below, tree branches frame the mountain and extend well into the bright sky. A GND would darken these branches to the point where they’d lose all detail and appear almost black, while branches below the horizon would remain properly exposed. The result would be imbalanced and visually jarring.

This is where exposure bracketing shines. By capturing multiple frames at different exposures, you can preserve detail in both the highlights and shadows, and blend them together later in post-processing to achieve a natural balance.

While the blending process can be time-consuming, especially in complex scenes, the results are often worth it. For scenes like the second example, I highly recommend using Luminosity Masks in Photoshop, which allow you to control exactly which tonal ranges are blended and where.

Recommended Reading: Blending Multiple Exposures with Luminosity Masks

Limitations of Exposure Bracketing

While multiple exposures give you more control in post-processing, they’re not always practical in the field. If you’re photographing scenes with wind-blown grass, moving water, or fast-changing clouds, it can be difficult to blend exposures cleanly, even with advanced techniques like Luminosity Masks.

In these cases, a GND filter often gives you a cleaner result, faster.

Pros and Cons: Graduated ND Filters vs Multiple Exposures

Now that we’ve explored when each method works best, let’s take a look at the key differences side by side. This comparison will help you quickly understand which technique is more suitable for different types of scenes and workflows.

	Graduated ND Filters	Multiple Exposures
Ease of Use	Simple to use in the field	Requires post-processing
Speed	Fast setup, minimal editing required	Fast setup but requires time in an editing software
Best For	Flat or gently sloped horizons	Complex scenes with uneven elements (mountains, trees, etc.)
Image Quality	One single raw file, less noise	Combines shadow/highlight detail, but more room for artifacts if not done carefully
Control	Less flexible, the filter affects the entire upper frame	Full control over every part of the image
Weather Flexibility	Can be tricky in the rain and requires attention to raindrops	May be tricky in windy conditions or when elements move
Equipment Needed	Filter holder and filters	Just a camera with manual mode (and ideally a tripod)
Learning Curve	Easy to learn, quick results	Steeper learning curve (especially for manual blending)

While both techniques have their strengths, neither is objectively better than the other; they simply suit different situations. Many photographers choose to carry both tools so they can adapt to the scene in front of them. In some cases, you might even find yourself combining them: using a soft GND filter in the field and still blending exposures later for maximum control.

Summary

Both Graduated ND filters and multiple exposures are valuable tools for dealing with high-contrast scenes in landscape photography. Rather than asking which one is “better,” it’s more useful to understand when each method makes sense.

Use a Graduated ND filter when the horizon is relatively flat and clean, as it allows you to balance the exposure in-camera and save time in post-processing. But when the scene includes mountains, trees, or other complex elements rising above the horizon, multiple exposures offer more control and a more natural result.

In the end, it’s not about choosing one method over the other. It’s about building your toolkit and learning how to adapt your approach to the scene in front of you.

FAQ: Graduated ND Filters vs Multiple Exposures