The Big Stopper
The Big Stopper is a neutral density filter that reduces the amount of light entering your lens by ten stops.
By greatly extending exposure times the Big Stopper has the effect of allowing anything that is moving in your image to become blurred or ghost like, for example clouds, waterfalls, rivers, and the sea. The filter can also be used on cityscapes to blur people or on roads and motorways to blur traffic.
Why use a Big Stopper
By greatly extending exposure times the Big Stopper has the effect of allowing anything that is moving in your image to become blurred or ghost like, for example clouds, waterfalls, rivers, and the sea.
The filter can also be used on cityscapes to blur people or on roads and motorways to blur traffic.
How to use the Big Stopper
Before fitting the Big Stopper, first compose your image.
Take a meter reading without the filter in place, and set your desired aperture and shutter speed.
Multiply your exposure by a factor of ten. For example, if your meter reading suggests an exposure of 1/125sec at f/11, with the Big Stopper fitted, your exposure becomes eight seconds at f/11. If your meter reading suggests an exposure of two seconds at f/11, with the Big Stopper fitted, your exposure becomes a whopping 32 minutes.
With the Big Stopper inserted into the slot nearest the lens, attach the filter holder as usual and make your exposure.
Always use the sturdiest tripod you can when making long exposures, and take care not to knock the camera or tripod. Cover your viewfinder before releasing the shutter to avoid light encroaching onto the sensor or film and causing flare.
The Big Stopper can be used in conjunction with other filters such as Neutral Density Graduated Filters. Other filters should be set up and positioned in the filter holder as normal before using the Big Stopper, remembering to keep the slot in the filter holder nearest the lens free for the BIG Stopper.
Exposure Guide
| Normal Shutter Speed | with Big Stopper |
| 1,000th | 1 second |
| 500th | 2 seconds |
| 250th | 4 seconds |
| 125th | 8 seconds |
| 60th | 15 seconds |
| 30th | 30 seconds |
| 15th | 1 minute |
| 8th | 2 minutes |
| ¼ | 4 minutes |
| ½ | 8 minutes |
| 1 second | 16 minutes |
| 2 seconds | 32 minutes |
How to use a Stopper with Jonathan Chritchley
The Stopper Range of long exposure filters from LEE Filters – Little Stopper, Big Stopper and Super Stopper.
In this video fine art photographer Jonathan Chritchley demonstrates how to get the most from your Stopper filters.
Features practical tips and creative inspiration for anyone exploring long exposure photography. He demonstrates the Big & Little Stopper but the techniques and advice are also applicable to the Super Stopper.
Professional hints:White balance
Use of Stopper filters may result in a slight colour cast. This is easily corrected in post-production, usually with a simple click of the auto white balance button..
Alternatively using auto white balance in the camera may help, but it is always best to do some tests.
Shooting tips
When making long exposures always use the sturdiest tripod you can, and take care not to knock the camera or tripod. If possible use a cable release or remote shutter release.
Cover your viewfinder before releasing the shutter to avoid light encroaching onto the sensor or film and causing flare.
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