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Fun with polarizing filters! ac
This picture and the one I'm gonna post right after it were taken mere seconds apart, with no change but a half-twist to my polarizing filter.
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>> ac
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTiFirmware VersionFirmware 1.0.5Owner NameunknownSerial Number0420104373Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationLeft-Hand, BottomHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2007:05:03 20:04:34Exposure Time1/400 secF-Numberf/2.0Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating400Lens Aperturef/2.0Exposure Bias0 EVFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length50.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width3888Image Height2592RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardExposure ModeAv-PriorityFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeSharpnessUnknownSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeManualImage SizeLargeFocus ModeOne-ShotDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeOffCompression SettingFineMacro ModeNormalWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed224Camera Actuations-729218896Color Matrix130
>> heavyweather !4AIf7oXcbA
Filters are something I really need to start investing in. This is so cool! I can't decide which I like more. I'm leaning towards the second, because of the tasty contrast and the nice dark sky.

Teach me your mystic ways. What exactly is going on with a polarizing filter, and why does changing the "orientation" change it? The only filters I've got are skylights and UV, which are pretty simple to understand. (I do have a hankering for one of those Hoya R72s, though. I love the look of b&w portraits taken with IR)
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
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Mmmm I <3 polarizing filters. They're a god send. Pic not my absolute best, but related.

>>45054
Polarizing filters help to cut out the glare of the sun when you're looking at a subject, or can help to lower a reflections off water, all sorts of stuff. It also helps, obviously, to make the sky a darker, more pure blue. For me, it's the most important piece of equipment on all my lenses.

As you turn a filter, watch the sky, you'll notice it'll change. It either gets darker, or lighter, then when you take the shot there isnt' as much glare. I'd HIGHLY recommend playing with one. Makes your colors deeper and punch more, too.
>> elf_man
That's the one piece of equipment I really wish I could use, having seen the results it produces.
>>45057
It's certainly patriotic. :P Was that in the evening?
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>45058

Nope; that was taken at high noon. ;)
>> heavyweather !4AIf7oXcbA
>>45057
Very nice shot Liska, I love your stuff as always. Could've been taken for the bicentennial or something.

So are there different "levels" of polarizing filters, like there are with ND filters?
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>45060

It was taken for a 4th of July contest; i have a huge flying american flag shot at home, too, that's all pretty and shiny with the sun behind it.

As far as different levels, there are different colors and such, but I think all polarizing filters essentially are the same. I like tiffen filters and that's all I use-- but i'm not sure if brand makes a difference.
>> elf_man
Anyone know a way to use polarizing with a camera that doesn't take filters? Besides holding up sunglasses?
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>45062

Hold up a filter in front of it instead of sunglasses and turn it with your hand a little? ;)
>> elf_man
*face palm* But that's... too easy!
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>45065

Ok, I carry 2 extra filters with me at all times, so next time we go out to photograph something, I'LL stand in front of the camera and turn the filter for you. That work?
>> elf_man
>>45074
I think we have a winner.
>> Anonymous
>>45060
if you get a circular polarizing filter you can turn it and get different levels of polarization. personally i use a hoya circular polarizer.

also fun, you can use these to see right through a window since it takes off all the glare.
</stalker>
>> Anonymous
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I too like polarizing filters.

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>> Anonymous
>>45126
Love! What kind of filter are you using?
>> Anonymous
>>45185

duh..........
>> Anonymous
>>45187
OK, my bad. He/She/It is using "polarizing filter" still I would love to have a little bit more info on that, if possible.
>> elf_man
Long story short, polarized light bounces off objects at all sorts of funny angles, producing a lot of glare. These filter that out; depending on how you turn the filter, it filters out more or less polarized light. You get the strongest effect facing directly away from the sun. As you can see, colors tend to get deeper; most noticeable is the sky, as in>>45057.
Incidentally, polarization is great eye protection in sunglasses.
>> eku
Would polarizing have any effect to IR? (Shooting with both IR and polarizing filter?)
>> Anonymous
>>45191
this isn't exactly right, but i'm just being picky.
light bounces off things at all sorts of crazy angles. this is unpolarized light. By using a polarizer, only the light that arrives at a specific angle is allowed through; the other crazy angles are filtered out. This is called polarization, and is what your filter does.

You're right, your terminology is just backwards. :)
>> Anonymous
>>45241
no, unless you have two.

http://www.jr-worldwi.de/photo/index.html?polarizer.html
>> elf_man
>>45242
Hm, yup, had it switched. My bad. This is what happens when you read too many articles on the physics of it in too short a time.