Well, I know I'm silly (and a newbie) and all that, so you needn't tell me.
Here's the story: I was in a camera store today (that's always a real threat to my budget!), looking for a used ND grad filter. They didn't have one, but I stumbled over that used circular polarizer, a real NIKON even, for very little money, suitable for two of my lenses. So I bought it right away. As I said, always a threat to my wallet.
Now, with the filter sitting here on my table, I'm wondering what I can do with it. I know that I can eliminate/reduce reflection on water & glass surfaces (great for some occasions, and actually why I considered buying one) and sunlight scattered by clouds. What else? I simply don't want to miss an application, and since so many of you use Pol-Filters for their images, I thought I'd ask here.
I would argue it is the most important filter you can have. Other filter effects can be applied post-exposure (by adjusting color temperature, blending exposures etc.) but not the polarizer - if you don't use it at exposure time you can't recreate the effect with other tools.
A polarizer deflects polarized (reflected) light. This includes haze (light reflecting off dust particles) which will make many images look more vibrant and crisp, glare (especially on foliage and water) etc.
I suggest you try it out in a variety of situations to see the effect.
For years I thought I ought to get a polarizer, but I procrastinated. When I finally did get one, I walked out into the street in front of my house, pointed to camera to the north at a blue sky with a big clouds. I took a couple of shots with the filter turned to maximize the effect and also turned to minimize the effect. What an amazing difference! How did I everget along without one?
The polarizer lives on my WA lens now and I am about to get another so I don't have to swap it to other lenses.
Make sure to correctly rotate the filter to fine tune the effect. I agree with Guy that it's the most important filter you can have. ND grads are extremely useful too, but there is no making up for lack of polarization in PS when it was needed in the field.
Posted by Kent Staubus on June 1, 2006 at 12:17 AM
After years of blowing money, I have one very hard and fast rule. NEVER, NEVER buy something unless I have determined a NEED for it first. Don't buy stuff because it got a good write up in a magazine, "everybody else" has one, or someone on an internet post said it was good.
You were very lucky this time because a polarizer is very useful. I use one for the majority of my daytime shots. I used it both times I photo'd a subject today. Now, don't go buy anything else just because the price seemed good unless you KNOW you have a use for it. Speaking from experience here.
Most people don't realize that a rainbow will be enhanced by a polarizer. Just be sure to properly orient it or you can completely eliminate the bow.
Photographing light through most transparent plastics will also create interesting images depending apon the localized strains in the material. Quite noticable when shooting through aircraft windows.
It is often stated that a polarizer has no effect on metallic surfaces. However if the light which falls on the metal surface is polarized, the reflection will be polarized. There can be interesting effects here.
Pictures of crystals, both organic and inorganic, in polarized light reveal internal structures.
For even more control of reflections, cross-polarization where a polarizer is mounted in front of the light source, and a polarizer on the lens is rotated 90 degrees to the illuminating polarizer will almost completely cancel specular reflections.
There are a lot more things which can be done with polarizers, but that should be a good start!
Thanks everybody. Didn't think of the rainbow thing, nice suggestion. I did already do some photographs of different plastic + strain on plastic + polarizer combinations at university (physical chemistry experiments), but who knows...?
Discussion
9 repliesWell, I know I'm silly (and a newbie) and all that, so you needn't tell me.
Here's the story: I was in a camera store today (that's always a real threat to my budget!), looking for a used ND grad filter. They didn't have one, but I stumbled over that used circular polarizer, a real NIKON even, for very little money, suitable for two of my lenses. So I bought it right away. As I said, always a threat to my wallet.
Now, with the filter sitting here on my table, I'm wondering what I can do with it. I know that I can eliminate/reduce reflection on water & glass surfaces (great for some occasions, and actually why I considered buying one) and sunlight scattered by clouds. What else? I simply don't want to miss an application, and since so many of you use Pol-Filters for their images, I thought I'd ask here.
Thanks for suggestions...
Basil
Basil
A polarizer deflects polarized (reflected) light. This includes haze (light reflecting off dust particles) which will make many images look more vibrant and crisp, glare (especially on foliage and water) etc.
I suggest you try it out in a variety of situations to see the effect.
Guy
Basil
The polarizer lives on my WA lens now and I am about to get another so I don't have to swap it to other lenses.
Try it, you'll like it.
You were very lucky this time because a polarizer is very useful. I use one for the majority of my daytime shots. I used it both times I photo'd a subject today. Now, don't go buy anything else just because the price seemed good unless you KNOW you have a use for it. Speaking from experience here.
Kent in SD
Photographing light through most transparent plastics will also create interesting images depending apon the localized strains in the material. Quite noticable when shooting through aircraft windows.
It is often stated that a polarizer has no effect on metallic surfaces. However if the light which falls on the metal surface is polarized, the reflection will be polarized. There can be interesting effects here.
Pictures of crystals, both organic and inorganic, in polarized light reveal internal structures.
For even more control of reflections, cross-polarization where a polarizer is mounted in front of the light source, and a polarizer on the lens is rotated 90 degrees to the illuminating polarizer will almost completely cancel specular reflections.
There are a lot more things which can be done with polarizers, but that should be a good start!
Basil