How to remove so much reflection in water? Is it simply putting a circular polarizer on the lens to remove all the reflections on a river or lake? There are times when I feel...

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

Is it simply putting a circular polarizer on the lens to remove all the reflections on a river or lake?
There are times when I feel reflections are just too much.
I'll post one of my pics that I think would be better as a clear or black water.

(Download)

Rongnongno Loc: FL

By using a polarizing filter and/or changing your point of view..

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

Rongnongno wrote:

By using a polarizing filter and/or changing your point of view..

Thanks Rongnongno. I had the polarizer on, so my next move (I assume) is to adjust the angle of the camera to the water.
Should I be pointed down more at a 45 degree angle?
Will being in the woods make the polarizer less effective to the water?

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

Greenguy33 wrote:

Thanks Rongnongno. I had the polarizer on, so my next move (I assume) is to adjust the angle of the camera to the water.
Should I be pointed down more at a 45 degree angle?
Will being in the woods make the polarizer less effective to the water?

or lower, with more level angle. for me you maybe shooting down into the water to much. really good subject material.. do several change ups. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

dirtpusher wrote:

or lower, with more level angle. for me you maybe shooting down into the water to much. really good subject material.. do several change ups. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Thanks dirtpusher! On my next hike, I'll try different angles. :thumbup:

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Greenguy33 wrote:

Thanks Rongnongno. I had the polarizer on, so my next move (I assume) is to adjust the angle of the camera to the water.
Should I be pointed down more at a 45 degree angle?

I had more in mind to lower the camera and point it up as to prevent a disequilibrium when composing for the new level.

Greenguy33 wrote:

Will being in the woods make the polarizer less effective to the water?

No. It will deepen the sky color and likely other color that faded due to the light reflections.

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

Rongnongno wrote:

No. It will deepen the sky color and likely other color that faded due to the light reflections.

Thanks Rongnongno! I will get lower and try that, as well as a higher angle.
The great thing about digital is that the pics are cheap. :lol: :thumbup:

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

Just a dumb question to be sure we covered all bases here.
Was that the best you could do with the polarizer or did you forget to rotate it to that point?

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Greenguy33 wrote:

Thanks Rongnongno! I will get lower and try that, as well as a higher angle.
The great thing about digital is that the pics are cheap. :lol: :thumbup:

You must also coordinate your angle to the light source, Greenguy. Your polarizer will have maximum effect if your light source (hopefully the sun) is at a 90° angle to the direction your are aimed for your shot.

Your polarizer will not work well with "non-polarized" light...cloud-filled, overcast sky, incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, etc. Open sunlight works best.

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

TucsonCoyote wrote:

Just a dumb question to be sure we covered all bases here.
Was that the best you could do with the polarizer or did you forget to rotate it to that point?

Not a dumb question. I don't recall adjusting the polarizer at all. Another thing I need to do.
I have the camera on a tripod. I need to take a deep breathe once it's composed and take my time and go through these steps.
Thanks for the reminder TusconCoyote! :thumbup:

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

Danilo wrote:

You must also coordinate your angle to the light source, Greenguy. Your polarizer will have maximum effect if your light source (hopefully the sun) is at a 90° angle to the direction your are aimed for your shot.

Your polarizer will not work well with "non-polarized" light...cloud-filled, overcast sky, incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, etc. Open sunlight works best.

Thanks Danilo! I need to take that into consideration. :thumbup:

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Greenguy33 wrote:

Is it simply putting a circular polarizer on the lens to remove all the reflections on a river or lake?
There are times when I feel reflections are just too much.
I'll post one of my pics that I think would be better as a clear or black water.

What kind of filter do you have? They are not all created equal. I think the time of day may be your biggest challenge though. The image you provided is a good example of what the harsh contrast of the sun can do in wooded area. I would try again at before sunrise, right after sunset or on a cloudy day to cut the glare and reflection.

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

mdorn wrote:

What kind of filter do you have? They are not all created equal. I think the time of day may be your biggest challenge though. The image you provided is a good example of what the harsh contrast of the sun can do in wooded area. I would try again at before sunrise, right after sunset or on a cloudy day.

Thanks for the suggestion mdorn! I think I was still using a Hoya at the time. I now use B+W.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Danilo wrote:

You must also coordinate your angle to the light source, Greenguy. Your polarizer will have maximum effect if your light source (hopefully the sun) is at a 90° angle to the direction your are aimed for your shot.

Your polarizer will not work well with "non-polarized" light...cloud-filled, overcast sky, incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, etc. Open sunlight works best.

My CP works without direct sunlight to cut the glare in water. I'm not sure I understand. Is the goal a dark blue sky or cutting down the reflection and glare of the water?

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

mdorn wrote:

My CP works without direct sunlight to cut the glare in water. I'm not sure I understand. Is the goal a dark blue sky or cutting down the reflection and glare of the water?

I'm not assuming a desired result in the image created here, Mark, only the function of the polarizing filter. In an overcast, or cloudy daylight situation, we may or may not see a partial "effect" from our polarizer because at least a percentage of our available light has been reflected before illuminating the subject. Perhaps reflected from a cloud, or the top of a cloud, or from some other object. Once polarized light (sunlight, for example) is reflected it is no longer polarized, thus our filter will only function to some unknown degree.

In a controlled environment (studio, perhaps) we can "re-polarize" light by means of polarized theatrical gels, but outdoors we are at the mercy of naturally available light. Thanks for a very thought-provoking question, Mark! :thumbup: :thumbup: