Help Please - Bright Sun Light & Bright Blue Sky

[mdodwell]

Hi All,

Firstly, thank you for taking the time to read my post.

I am going to Antigua in July for a holiday and I am looking forward in taking some lovely shots as well as some candid holiday snaps.

I have never taken photo's in what I would expect would be bright sun and very blue sky and am wondering if I should get a filter? I was thinking, maybe a polarised filter to help get those lovely colours with out having the sun wash out the photo.

Can anyone offer some advise that could help me?

Cheers
Matt

[Photosbykev]

A circular polarising filter will help improve a lot of photographic subjects and will work well on most skies but it only increases the saturation. Ideally you will need a Neutral Density graduated filter to balance the foreground and sky correctly.

[dcclark]

Agreed -- a polarizer will be good to help increase the saturation of colors, and reduce reflections off of foliage and water.

I might recommend a ND in case you hit TOO bright situations -- which are possible, but not terribly likely. You might find that a graduated ND is more useful, to balance a bright sky and a slightly darker ground.

[LeeR]

Good Polarizing filters are expensive, so, if you get one, do yourself a favor and learn well what it does, where it works and when. It will help you use it to full effect.
I heard Ansel Adams talking about polarizing filters and he said his experience had been to turn it until it looked good...and then back off just a bit. What looks good in the lens often looks artifical when you print it.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by LeeR

Good Polarizing filters are expensive,

They need not be.

[Benji]

Since about 50% of the shots of the sky that you attempt to polarize will turn out with partially polarized skies and will look ugly, double up on the shots, one with the filter, the other without.

Also keep in mind that when you face straight south during the daytime the sky will be white, the east sky is white in the morning, the west sky is white in the afternoon and the north sky is never any color other than blue (unless there are clouds in the sky!)

Benji