AVForums

Our philosophy in our forums, reviews, podcasts and feature videos is to promote audio and visual excellence by gathering and sharing the best information and resources available.

Help

To begin please visit our help section »

Not a Member Yet?

It only takes a minute to start enjoying the benefits of AVForums membership, and it's free!

Member Log in

Am I expecting too much with a polirizer?

Post Reply
Old 08-04-2008, 11:08 AM   #1
Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Thanks: Gave 78, Got 67
Posts: 391
Am I expecting too much with a polirizer?






Without filter and with a polarizer filter fitted. I was wanting to significantly cut the glare of the reflected sunlight out for surfing kitesurfing shots.

The contrast between the Sea and the Sky is working better but it all seems a bit hit and miss at the moment .
It a Praktica circular polarizer, should I add another filter into the mix something like a UV filter?
Just a newbie learning, sorry if it obvious!

I decided to shoot the second set with the Sun in the frame just to see what would happen and it seems to have done a better job.
  Quote
Old 08-04-2008, 11:22 AM   #2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Experience Points:
12,951, Level: 27
Points: 12,951, Level: 27 Points: 12,951, Level: 27 Points: 12,951, Level: 27
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 36, Got 547
Posts: 2,713
Re: Am I expecting too much with a polirizer?

UV filter won't help. Don't expect the polarizer to work miracles either. I'll ask the obvious though - are you rotating the polarizer to get the best result? Also, to fix the exposure between sky/land you probably want a graduated filter of some sort
  Quote
Old 08-04-2008, 11:23 AM   #3
Conspicuous Member
 
stevegreen's Avatar
Join Date: May 2001
Location: in my Hymer
Experience Points:
30,635, Level: 42
Points: 30,635, Level: 42 Points: 30,635, Level: 42 Points: 30,635, Level: 42
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 1,182, Got 1,020
Posts: 8,724
Re: Am I expecting too much with a polirizer?

Circular polarisers will always be more effective when the lens is pointing at 90 degrees to the sun, thats when you will notice the best increase in saturation etc when it is rotated. You should be able to reduce glare significantly though. I assume that you rotated it to see the effect?
  Quote
Old 08-04-2008, 11:47 AM   #4
Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Thanks: Gave 78, Got 67
Posts: 391
Re: Am I expecting too much with a polirizer?

Yes i rotated it

Now I just feel plane stupid

Last edited by Farno; 08-04-2008 at 11:52 AM.
  Quote
Old 08-04-2008, 12:00 PM   #5
Distinguished Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Windsor
Experience Points:
45,485, Level: 52
Points: 45,485, Level: 52 Points: 45,485, Level: 52 Points: 45,485, Level: 52
Activity: 21.6%
Activity: 21.6% Activity: 21.6% Activity: 21.6%
Thanks: Gave 378, Got 854
Posts: 12,641
Re: Am I expecting too much with a polirizer?

that second photo looks like you're pointing directly at the sun. you'll get hardly any polarising effect there.
  Quote
Old 08-04-2008, 12:09 PM   #6
Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Thanks: Gave 78, Got 67
Posts: 391
Re: Am I expecting too much with a polirizer?

So a cross-shore shot in those conditions would be better and rotate the filter to get the best polarization.

Thanks everyone for the help

Last edited by Farno; 08-04-2008 at 12:17 PM.
  Quote
Old 08-04-2008, 12:37 PM   #7
Prominent Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Guildford
Experience Points:
18,426, Level: 32
Points: 18,426, Level: 32 Points: 18,426, Level: 32 Points: 18,426, Level: 32
Activity: 0.4%
Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4%
Thanks: Gave 310, Got 933
Posts: 4,056
Re: Am I expecting too much with a polirizer?

Yep - spot on to the above posters. You'll get virtually no effect pointing straight at the sun, and greatest effect 90 degrees to it.
  Quote
Old 08-04-2008, 12:43 PM   #8
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Devon, Sussex or somewhere inbetween.
Experience Points:
7,818, Level: 21
Points: 7,818, Level: 21 Points: 7,818, Level: 21 Points: 7,818, Level: 21
Activity: 4.8%
Activity: 4.8% Activity: 4.8% Activity: 4.8%
Thanks: Gave 425, Got 577
Posts: 2,383
Re: Am I expecting too much with a polirizer?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobers View Post
Yep - spot on to the above posters. You'll get virtually no effect pointing straight at the sun, and greatest effect 90 degrees to it.
Indeed, and for this reason you will find a Polariser very useful if you are shooting around mid-day when the sun is virtually straight up and therefore at 90 degrees to all horizons.
  Quote
Old 08-04-2008, 12:54 PM   #9
Member
 
Steve Zissou's Avatar
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Portsmouth
Experience Points:
4,112, Level: 15
Points: 4,112, Level: 15 Points: 4,112, Level: 15 Points: 4,112, Level: 15
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 7, Got 11
Posts: 166
Re: Am I expecting too much with a polirizer?

This is roughly 90 degrees to the sun (and a lot clrearer day!)

  Quote
Post Reply



Thread information and display options
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off