I’ve long known and used ND filters and graduated ND filters in bright light; didn’t realize that you could get some wonderful effects with them in darkness.
The examples in this article (via ) are just outstanding
https://digital-photography-school.com/use-nd-filters-creatively-make-scene/
Like this one of the moon (below).
Here, the “double stacked graduated ND filters” helped bring the brightness of the moon to a level comparable with the foreground.
The takeaway is that ND filters and graduated ND filters can be used in places where there is a huge difference in brightness of the various elements in the photograph.
Hype Cycles 