Too blue?

[JeanneLou]

Crater Lake was gorgeous last weekend. There is still 10-15 feet of snow. My question is, should I have used the circular polarizer when it was already so blue?



1/400 sec
f4.5
19mm

[IABoomer]

This shot does a good job of exemplifying the potential downfall to using a polarizing filter on a wide angle lens. You can see the effect is much stronger on the right than it is on the left. I think the darker right side is a bit distracting, and thus I'd probably suggest against shooting this scene with the CPL.

I'd also compose/crop a little differently to get rid of the jagged bright foreground.

[JeanneLou]

I am just learning how to use one. On the foreground, it is snow. I was hoping it would work to contrast with the blue! LOL, as soon as you get comments, it just makes sense why it doesn't work. Thanks!

[milosh]

As said, there was probably no need for you to use a CPL here. The effect you got was gorgeous sky at left and too dark/too blue sky on the right. The use of snow (or almost anything) as a foreground is the way to go, but the trick is to not overexpose the snow. Besides that, next time when you have enough light like you had this time, stop down your lens (use smaller aperture, bigger f number) because it's sharper that way.

[JeanneLou]

Originally Posted by milosh

As said, there was probably no need for you to use a CPL here. The effect you got was gorgeous sky at left and too dark/too blue sky on the right. The use of snow (or almost anything) as a foreground is the way to go, but the trick is to not overexpose the snow. Besides that, next time when you have enough light like you had this time, stop down your lens (use smaller aperture, bigger f number) because it's sharper that way.

Thank you. I appreciate your comment. Very helpful.

[Krusty79]

I am still learning that the polarizer does not always have to be dialed for maximum effect when you use it. I don't think you needed it here.

[JeanneLou]

Originally Posted by Krusty79

I am still learning that the polarizer does not always have to be dialed for maximum effect when you use it. I don't think you needed it here.

It just looks so pretty when you love blue! I wish I could go back and try again but it is about three hours away from home.