"Hazy" Sky in Image When Actual Sky Is Clear

[Patrick 1945]

My first posting to this forum...

I'm using a Nikon D50. Often, when I shoot a distant landscape, I get a somewhat "hazy" effect in the image. This happens even if the actual sky/mountain are quite clear. This occurs any time of day, whether I'm in full automatic or in full manual. I've tried several filters, but none seem to help much. This also occurs no matter which lens I use.

Any suggestions?

Thanks very much.

[mseigafuse]

Welcome Patrick. I think it might be far easier to help you if you could post an example picture with the EXIF data. Maybe others might be able to make suggestions, but I find it much easier with a sample...

Mike

[Patrick 1945]

[Patrick 1945]

[Patrick 1945]

Thanks Mike...I've posted a couple shots in question. Should I send the EXIF data also?

[Elmo]

One of the first things to do is scrap the UV filter or any other protective filter if you are using one. The actual job of these filters is to deduce the haze. If there is still not enough haze the best solution is to wait until there is enough. Short of that there are some fog filters that will add some but that never looks truly real.

And as a last resort fake it in post processing.

[Patrick 1945]

Thanks Elmo, but my problem is too much "haze". In the posted images, there appears to be a fair amount of this haze. In actuality, there was almost none. This happens quite often in these long range landscape shots.

As for processing the photo, I've tried the MSFT software and Photoshop Elements, with little effect.

So, I'm back to square 1---what's causing this haze effect and how do I get rid of it?

[Digidave]

Patrick: What type of filters have you been using? A Circular Polarizer (CPL), if used properly, should solve this problem

[navcom]

I can't think of anything that would cause haze if it wasn't there. Usually if something is wrong with your lens, camera, or sensor, it will be apparent in the entire image. In yours, the trees up front are fine.

The only thing I can think of is that there really is haze and you are not realizing it. As the saying goes, the eyes tell you what you want to see and the camera tells it like it is. I can't count the number of times I've framed up a shot and then when I got back to the office realized it looked nothing like I was "seeing" it when I was there or noticed things I completely missed that ruin the shot because my brain saw around them.

Only thing I can think of. And also, as Elmo says, get rid of the UV filter if you are using one.

[Patrick 1945]

I've been using the UV filter since it's "supposed" to work. Sounds like you folks don't like it, so I'll do without or use the CPL next time.
Thanks all.