Polarising Filters Help

colinb07958 · 04-07-2006, 12:27 PM

i was advised that if i wanted to shoot landscapes that I should use a Polarising filter. therefor I just bought a Hoya Circular polarising filter. How do I use it?

i have it on my Nikon D50, but do I just turn it until the picture looks clear? any tips of help would be grateful.

cheers
colin

Nick Cartwright · 04-07-2006, 12:44 PM

I think you can use it to make the colours look more vibrant. i.e. Sky looking really blue. I have just bought the same filter but have not had chance to use it yet.

You could set the camera up, and take a series of the same shots, with maybe a 1/8th turn between them, and see hot the effect changes and which you prefer.

I think the effect is a side effect, a polarising filters main job is to reduce reflections on no metalic surfaces.

agoodey · 04-07-2006, 1:22 PM

There are only a few things to note when using a polarising filter:

1) If the end of your lens rotates when it focuses, make sure that the camera is perfectly focused before rotating the filter

2) Rotate the filter until you get the desired effect through the viewfinder and take the photo.

3) You will notice the greatest effect (skies turn a much darker blue etc.) when the sun is over your left or right shoulder rather than directly behind you

For shooting landscapes, I would also recommend purchasing a cokin filter holder and several different 'neutral density' gradient filters - so that you can ensure that the sky and foreground both have the appropriate exposure.

A good guide to filters for digital cameras can be found here

Peakoverload · 04-07-2006, 1:22 PM

CP filters work at their best when the camera is at 90 degrees to the sun. An easy way to work out where 90 degrees is, is by doing this. Hold your thumb and index finger as if it were a gun and point to the sun with your finger. Your thumb will now be pointing at 90 degrees (remember you can rotate your wrist 180 degrees).

So now you know where to stand (or to wait for sun to move) in order to achieve maximum polarization but what about the filter itself?

By looking through the viewfinder and turning the filter you will see the polarisation effect change, typically this is most noticeable on blue skys. The amount of polarisation you apply is entirely up to you and is dependant on the effect you are after. You will also find that at maximum polarisation your shutter speed will drop so you may need to reduce the amount of polarisation if you are shooting hand held or moving objects. To help you in this some CP filters have a white mark on the edge of the filter. If you point this mark to the sun then you will have maximum polarisation.

HTH

**Zone** · 04-07-2006, 1:27 PM

Must admit that most photographers I know rely mainly on ND filters for their landscape shots and personally I find the overly bright blue skys where polarisers have been used false looking.

As Nick mentioned, polarisers are great from reducing reflections especially on water.

That said, polarisers generally work best on skys when used 45 to 90 degrees from the angle of the sun.

*imcarm* · 04-07-2006, 1:35 PM

I'm currently looking into getting a circular polarising filter for taking shots of fish.. I have also been informed that a polarising filter will reduce the amount of haze when taking landscape shots, is anyone able to confirm this? and would a clear polariser filter yield better results?