When you’re stuck in a creative rut, sometimes the best solution is to shake up your process and try something totally different.
That’s exactly what photographer Steve Glass set out to do during his recent Cowboys in Colorado workshop. Instead of capturing the usual sharp, high-speed images of horses in motion, he reached for something unexpected: a Maven 10-Stop Neutral Density Filter and a slow shutter speed.
Sarah Hanssen, wrangler, Sundance Trail Guest Ranch, Red Feather Colorado. West Pasture. Gallop. Panning. Photo take by Steve Glass using the Maven 10ND Filter
The result? A beautifully blurred, dynamic image of a cowgirl on horseback that breaks all the usual rules — and makes the viewer stop and take a second look.
Why the 10-Stop ND?
Steve’s goal was to pan a moving subject in bright midday light — not an easy task without drastically overexposing the shot. By snapping on the Maven magnetic 10-stop ND, he was able to:
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Cut the light enough to shoot at 1/13 sec
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Maintain creative depth of field
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Introduce intentional motion blur to add drama and energy to the image
With this setup, Steve went from a technically clean but expected photo, to one filled with movement, emotion, and atmosphere.
“What if I just tried something different?”
In his full article, Steve walks through:
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His camera settings and thought process
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A breakdown of the gear used (including his Maven 10ND filter and trusty Manfrotto tripod)
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The lessons he learned — like why next time he’ll shoot the same shot wide open at f/2.8
This article is a great reminder that sometimes all it takes is one new piece of gear to unlock fresh creative possibilities.
Read Steve’s full post here:
Panning Running Horses – Full Article by Steve Glass
Follow Steve on Facebook: Glass Photography
