value of a polarizer

[arlon]

I don't use a polarizer very often but when I do, nothing else will take it's place.

Here's a shot with and without the polarizer in case anyone doesn't know what they can do for glare..

with:
Larger version

without:
Larger version

I really like them when I don't want reflections on the water.
Polarizer was dialed down to about half strength to show some reflection detail but still being able to plainly see the rocks below the surface.

Larger version.


If you have some good examples using a polarizer, post them up!

[Bluenoser]

Nice comparison arlon - I use one on occasion and couldn't live without it.

[Trigger]

I too love it and use it for capturing clouds its excellent


cheers

[dcclark]

Great examples. I find them even more valuable for removing reflections than for color saturation.

Another fun use: If you have a B&W composition in mind, you can use polarizers to bring out nice pure colors in part of the photo, with the idea of eventually turning them dark black or bright white. For example, by making the sky really blue in the original here, I was able to remove the blue channel and turn the sky deep black as a result. Without the polarizer, the sky would have been too mixed, and would have come out grey.

[arlon]

Great idea David, thanks for sharing it. Love the picture too.

[sbunting108]

Thanks for sharing this with us.

[disappearingmist]

I don't think that I have seen an actual example of a car window before. Thanks for sharing! 1 more reason I definitely need one of those!

[jpleow]

I bought a B+W Polarize filter but never really know how to fully utilize it so I stick back to normal filter...
Been trying out a few times but can't seem to make full use of it.


Anyway nice comparison....
Cheers!

[dcclark]

jpleow: here are a couple tricks to make use of it:

1. Find some water that makes a good addition to a photo (a pond, a puddle, etc.). Use the polarizer to remove the reflections. Make sure to rotate the polarizer until the reflections go away entirely (or as much as you can). This may make things interesting.

2. On a bright, sunny, relatively cloudless day (preferably without haze), go out and point your camera 90 degrees away from the sun. The standard hint about how to do this is: point directly at the sun with your index finger, and let your thumb stick straight out away from your hand. Then point the camera in the same direction as your thumb. In this direction, the polarizer will make the sky the bluest. Point your camera that way, and rotate the polarizer all the way around, watching how the sky changes. It should be very noticeable, if it's a clear day.

[abisurd]

I have myselves not used one for two years, though I have recently bought a Cokin P type holder and two filters and am now looking to buy this CPL.

Here are my example photos taken almost exactly 2 years ago. Click the photos to view the descriptions (all links open in a new window/tab)