Polarizer example (photography)

[ukaskew]

I always struggle to explain how a polarizer has an effect on car shots. It's pretty obvious on sky (i.e. makes it darker) but the benefits in other areas are less clear.

As luck would have it I was flicking through my 197 shoot pics this evening and found two shots taken seconds apart with the only difference being that one was 'polarized' and one wasn't, here goes...


Non-polarized

Polarized

As you can see the second shot has much clearer windows and headlights, but just as importantly the red paintwork is far more vivid. Both pics are completely untouched direct from my camera, the only difference being a slight turn of a £12 filter attached to the lens.

 

[MrMark]

very good. learn something new everyday.

 

[dk]

had you not said about the windows they were not something i was looking at but that is pretty cool with them!

 

[Feirny]

Wow, worth £12 then i guess.

 

[Andy.]

I got a free circular polarising filter when I bought a lens but have not really used it. Are you just supposed to turn the filter around until the area that you want polarised becomes polarised?

 

[miltage2]

great results, got to get me one of those, filter + car!!!

 

[ukaskew]

I got a free circular polarising filter when I bought a lens but have not really used it. Are you just supposed to turn the filter around until the area that you want polarised becomes polarised?

Yep, just look through the viewfinder and turn, it soon becomes obvious. It works great on water as well, if you go somewhere a bit tropical it's amazing as it makes an incredible difference on the sea.

 

[fizzy_drink]

A good example there...

...it also works wonders on water (like shots out at sea).

 

[Rhino172]

nice one I was thinking about getting one of these filters soon!

I've already got a uv filter on, does the polarizing filter screw in on the the end of that do you think or is it one or the other?

 

[JMR]

Reduces reflections really well. Essential piece of kit imo.

First pic without, second pic with polarizer rotated.

Good advice chris.

 

[Rich]

Polarizer ruins the look reflections in the silver paint in the above pic IMO and makes the front wing look odd in colour.

Like what it does to the glass.

 

[JMR]

^^

Yup, flattens the silver paint too much. Good job on windows though like you say.

 

[f0xy]

whats the best make to get? and where from? shots look awesome

 

[JMR]

HOYA - about £20-£25 for a 55mm one.

Or just get one from Jessops, they'res not much in them tbh.