Polarized filter beginner's question

Hi all,


I just purchased the b+w circular polarized filter. I'm somewhat confused on how to get the most out of the filter. I took some pictures outside and I noticed that there was less glare off the leaves and the colors were a little bit brighter but I wouldn't think it was dramatic. I guess I was expecting a little bit more given how much everyone raves about CP filters. I noticed you can twist the filter but I didn't see a big difference. Can someone describe what the point of adjusting the filter is and any other tips that might help?

Thanks!

On way to know if your CP filter is at it max, point your camera at your TV/monitor and keep turning the first element until the screen becomes black. Your circular polarizer is at its best when the sun is 90 degrees to the right of left of you.

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Originally Posted by henytran

Hi all,


I noticed you can twist the filter but I didn't see a big difference. Can someone describe what the point of adjusting the filter is and any other tips that might help?

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Find a reflection off a pond or a lake, and then give the ol' CP a twist, and you'll be amazed at how that glare disappears before your very eyes.

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"]The polarizing effect will vary
according to your position to the sun. This was how it was
explained to me. Take your hand and make a gun shape with your
index finger and thumb. Now that you have this shape you will use it
as a simple tool. When you are looking through your cameras
viewfinder at a scene you want to photograph you will have the most
dramatic enhancement when the sun is 90 degrees to either side or
from above. Hence the pistol shape you make with your hand. Your
index finger points at your subject and your thumb will point in the
direction of the sun and where it needs to be to see the biggest
effect. Polarization helps most in the bright daylight but the
polarization is also helpful in removing or making reflections less
obvious in/on shinny surfaces. When turning the polarization filter
ring you cycle through the effect that the filter offers. Keep
in mind that the filter has to be rotated two or three times to go
through the whole process. I made that mistake in the
beginning. Also a helpful tip that was handed down to me was
always get in the habit of turning you filter clockwise when turning
the other ring. The reason for this is it screws on to your
lens clockwise and then stops when it is tight. If you are out
shooting and you turn it counter clockwise and you rotate it enough
in that direction it could fall off. I don't know anyone who
would not be upset when there $120-200 filter hits the ground or
concrete. Most of the time when using the Polarizing filter you can
expect your sky's to be more blue, clouds will be more pronounced,
colors will be more saturated, and reflection in windows will have
more color and depth. I have even started using my filter in
the studio or for architecture photography because it removes
unwanted reflection plus sometimes it enhances the images in
different ways like reflection being taken out of eyeglasses.
One thing about polarization filters that you need to be aware of is
that when using one, you will be allowing allowing less light to
enter your camera where you will have to use higher ISO's, faster
shutter speeds and higher apertures because of the loss of light.
Depending on the filter this can be as little as two stops of light.
This can become a problem if you are hand-holding your camera indoors
or in darker places where camera shake or motion blur can become more
apparent. You had the right idea of buying an expensive/quality
polarizing filter as it can be a very useful tool where you just need
to experiment with it. In time you will see its advantages plus it
will provides benefits that would take many hours to try and
reproduce in photoshop.