More for the 'creative' than the 'purist' but I've seen numerous examples and articles recently about 'welding glass' filter photography.

In a nutshell welding glass can be used in the same way as a neutral density filter to cut out light enabling long exposures to capture movement. Welding glass requires VERY long exposures so is a great fun way to experiment with lots of movement.

There's numerous welding glass sellers on Fleabay. The glass comes in grades 9,10,11 (higher the number the darker the glass) and will set you back £1 to £1.50.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Glass-Filter-W...item27ac743a25

If you have Cokin P holders then you want glass that is 85mm wide - as if by magic a lot of them are this size. If you dont have a filter holder you can pick one up for a fiver otherwise, you can use any of the improvised methods of using a filter on a lens. If you want to try it on different sized lenses then rubber bands can be used to hold it in place - another method is to buy a cheap ring and glue the ring to the glass. This is probably the best method but obviously you are then only able attach it to the lens with that size thread.

Note - Welding glass is very dark so the exposures will be very long so it's important that no light creeps in behind the glass. Some glass seems to come with smooth edges - others sharp, edges can be taped up for safety or sanded smooth.

I'm sure you can find others but here's some examples of welding glass filter photographs.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/weldingmaskglassfilter/

Interesting!
I'm quite tempted to try that!
I have never tried long exposure but always wanted to.
I have a Cokin holder, so would that one you have linked us to do the job?

We could try this as our 'have a go' challenge one month!

Interesting stuff Phil - would love to give it a whirl!

Think I might have a go too - if ever I get from behind my broken computer!

Some stunning shots there!

xx

Hey Phil,

My piece of welding glass arrived today, along with my 77mm to 82mm step up ring. Now I need to get creative with sticky tape/blue tac/araldite etc to make something that is not too 'Heath Robinson'

Just need some light now, so probably have to wait until the weekend to give it a bash

Alan.

Love it!

xx

Don't laugh.

Next up is my ringflash made from plant pots.

I Know this is an old post but I bought Two Welding glass filters an EN8 and a EN10
I have been out over the last couple off days hope to post the results shortly.

Has any one else tried this on here and what was your results like?.

How about lighting diffusers made of clear drinking glasses stuffed full of tissues?

worst photos imaginable ever.

Hope you have more luck than I did

Alan.