Some evenings stay with you. Not because something grand happens, but because you’re in the right place at the right time. This was one of those evenings.
An Evening by the River Tweed
We set out for the banks of the River Tweed, just below the graceful arches of Kelso Old Bridge. The light softened into gold as we set up our tripods. That mix of calm and excitement filled the air, the feeling that comes when you know you’ll soon lose yourself in photography.
Testing Filters on the Bridge
For this outing, I used my Nikon D5600 with a Nikkor 70–300mm 1:4.5–5.6E lens. I began with a polarising filter, curious to see how it might shape the scene. The difference surprised me. The bridge looked sharper, and reflections on the water grew more vivid.
Both shots were taken with the same settings, f/8, 1/6 second, focal length 70mm, ISO 100. The only change came from the filter. The first image was taken with a polarising filter which lifted the colours and bought some depth to the image.
The filter I used was a K&F Concept Nano-X Series CPL MRC 67mm which fits my Nikkor 70-300mm lens perfectly.
Switching to an ND Filter
I changed from the polarising filter to an ND filter. I kept the same settings. The effect appeared instantly. The sky darkened slightly, the tones deepened, and the whole image looked sharper.
The change felt subtle, yet it added a sense of drama. It showed me how the right filter can shift the mood of a photo with just one adjustment.
The filter I used was a K&F Concept Variable ND Filter ND2-ND400 High Definition Nano-X Adjustable Fader (HD Nano-X Version).
Still Waters and Quiet Details
The water looked so clear that I turned my lens to the riverbed. Thankfully, glare off the surface stayed minimal, which can often spoil shots like these.
The stretch near me stayed still. No fish broke the surface. Further upstream, though, a couple of fish leapt near the bridge, close to the fishermen. Those brief ripples reminded me of the life hidden just below the water, even when my part of the shoreline stayed calm.
Long Exposure Experiments
Later, two fly fishermen joined us in the river. Their slow, steady movements brought a quiet rhythm to the evening. Around that time, a colleague lent me his 6-stop ND filter and shutter release cable.
I tried a few long exposures, curious to see what I could capture. One frame turned out especially memorable. A fisherman shifted position while the shutter stayed open, leaving a ghostlike double image. He appeared to stand in two places at once. It was a happy accident, one of those moments where unpredictability makes photography magical.
Closing Reflections
As we packed up, the light faded and the bridge turned to silhouette against the sky. The river slowed into its evening rhythm. We walked back with quiet satisfaction.
What began as practice with filters became an evening of discovery, laughter, and learning. Photography isn’t only about the final shot. It’s about being present, noticing small details, and capturing not just what you see but how the moment feels.