Polarizing filters are still popular, even in the age of Photoshop, because their effect is very difficult to simulate.
There are software programs that do a decent job, but the effect of post-processing can never beat the effect of a real filter. That’s why today we’re giving you some tips on how to get the most out of your polarizing filter.
- When should I use a polarizing filter?
If you use a polarizer, even with the ability to instantly check the image on the LCD, it’s a good idea to take a picture without the polarizer as well. Sometimes the filter creates an unexpected effect that you won’t notice on the small screen.
Polarizing filters are also great for photographing rainbows. Most people say that you shouldn’t use a polarizer for rainbows because it will make them disappear. After all, rainbows are caused by reflection, when the sun’s rays hit water droplets.
Don’t listen to people who say this, because if the polarizer is turned the other way, the amount of light in a scene can be increased. This makes the rainbow even brighter and with more prominent colors.
Be careful! Polarizing filters reduce the amount of light that enters the camera, forcing you to use longer exposures. This increases the risk of motion blur. Therefore, when using a polarizing filter, make sure the camera is always stable.
A very common and recommended use is to eliminate glare on metal surfaces, for which these filters work very well.
With one of these filters you can bring out the blue in the sky, but you must learn to master the rotation, this is the most important tip. Don’t always rotate the polarizer to the maximum. Sometimes an overly polarized sky looks unnatural.
You need to find the right amount of polarization to enhance the sky without making it look strange. Often, turning the filter a little bit is all that is needed to get what you want.
- When to avoid using a polarizer
If you are shooting with an ultra wide angle lens, you must be careful to avoid uneven polarization.
Remove the polarizer if you are shooting a panorama, the sky will look ugly.
If you are traveling and like to take pictures from the airplane window, it is not recommended to use a polarizing filter because the airplane window is already polarized and produces a cross-polarization that gives a blue/purple rainbow effect with strange colors and effects, (although in this picture it looked pretty good) 🙂
Polarizing filters will have little to no effect when used to photograph a sunset, because the angle is wrong. The effect of a polarizer shows up at 90 degree angles to the sun. You can change the axis a bit, but if you move too far away from 90 degrees from the sun, the polarizer won’t do much. Remove the polarizer for sunsets. It won’t saturate the colors, it will cause glare on the lens and probably ruin the image.
