How to use a circular polariser?

[Matt Green]

Just been taking some pics out in the garden with a hoya colour polariser attached to my camera and comparing with and without shots, I have to confess I'm a little uncertain as to what difference it has made to my pictures ...scrolling through all I can see is a slight difference in light? The colours seem identical, far from the image comparison shots I've been looking at on the net? I was under the impression colours would be a lot richer and more defined...as opposed to being washed out in high glaring light situations.

What am I doing wrong?

Matt

[surfg1mp]

It all depends....if your images are looking washed out it could be you are either shooting into the sun or the images are over-exposed.

try knocking exposure compenstaion down until the exposure looks right.

The polarizer should make skies look bluer as long as you are not shooting into the sun, try taking the picture with the sun behind you.

The polarizer will also help reduce glare from reflective surfaces.

Hope this helps....probably totally wrong but hey hoe...

[Don Hoey]

Just a quick answer for now. Others may elaborate before I get a chance. Essentially its all about your angles to the light, and you should see an effect in the viewfinder as you rotate the front of the polariser if you have it right.

A bit of a quick hunt for a couple of links that may be helpful as a starter.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...larizers.shtml

http://www.offrench.net/photos/artic...ing_filter.php

Don

[miketoll]

Originally Posted by surfg1mp

try taking the picture with the sun behind you.

The polarizer will also help reduce glare from reflective surfaces.

Hope this helps....probably totally wrong but hey hoe...

No! Shoot with the sun at 90 degrees or as near as possible for maximum effect. Line up your shot and turn the outer ring while watching through the view finder to see when the effect is at it's maximum. Read Don's links, especially the second one. Colours get richer because reflections are much reduced allowing the colour of the object to be seen more easily but reflections are not cut out if they are off metallic objects.

[Matt Green]

Thanks for all the replies and useful links, folks!

Had the chance to get out and have a proper play with it in favourable conditions today, rotating the filter does make some subtle changes to the colour and take off unwanted glare and reflections on shiny foliage etc. Looking forward to another play with it in the morning!!!!

Matt

[surfg1mp]

Originally Posted by miketoll

No! Shoot with the sun at 90 degrees or as near as possible for maximum effect. Line up your shot and turn the outer ring while watching through the view finder to see when the effect is at it's maximum. Read Don's links, especially the second one. Colours get richer because reflections are much reduced allowing the colour of the object to be seen more easily but reflections are not cut out if they are off metallic objects.

My bad.....going to sit on the naughty step

[graham harcombe]

Originally Posted by surfg1mp

My bad.....going to sit on the naughty step

.....ROFL !!

You've a barrel load of good advice/references thrown your way Matt. I'd just like to say how much difference the Cir/Pl filter makes given the right circumstances. Given a chance at some seascapes on a sunny day with attractive cloud, you will really see it come into its own.

Wish you good shooting.

Graham