What a polarizer does: Here are two shots taken from the same place, one with the polarizer rotated one way, the other with it rotated 90* the other way. I should have taken a shot...

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

Here are two shots taken from the same place, one with the polarizer rotated one way, the other with it rotated 90* the other way. I should have taken a shot without any polarization at all, but you think of such things later..... Anyway, I thought it would make an interesting comparison...

Without polarizer

With polarizer

mrsoup Loc: Hoosierland

Wow, until you compare as you did I had no idea the effect would be that dramatic. I real eye opener, thanks for posting.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

I don't think that is a fair comparison.
The light is totally different in the second shot.
A polariser does not make that much difference.
What time frame apart were the two photos taken.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

lighthouse wrote:

I don't think that is a fair comparison.

That is strange. A polarizer reduces glare and enhances colors.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

jerryc41 wrote:

That is strange. A polarizer reduces glare and enhances colors.

I second this. Polarizers reduce or eliminate reflections from non metallic surfaces and they work at their best when positioned at a 45 degrees from the sun.
Another use for polarizers is to reduce the exposure by 2 full stops when used at maximum polarization. I use it this way for water falls to cut down the shutter speed and when I want to slow the shutter speed by 2 stops for special effects.
Even on a cloudy day the polarizer is a good choice. It is good to eliminate reflections from the foliage after a rain and excellent to bring vibrant colors to the fall foliage.
I seldom use a polarizer to darken the sky.

paulie1138 Loc: Arizona

Just my guess, but judging by the shadows, it looks like the photos were taken around the same time.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

dlmorris wrote:

Here are two shots taken from the same place, one with the polarizer rotated one way, the other with it rotated 90* the other way. I should have taken a shot without any polarization at all, but you think of such things later..... Anyway, I thought it would make an interesting comparison...

The first shot is underexposed. If it had been properly exposed, the sky would have been lighter (probably too light). The main benefit of the polarizer was to darken the sky, and perhaps cut a bit of haze. This is, however, a good example of the proper use of a polarizer. Kudos!

tomface Loc: California

Hello Morris, we are neighbors, I'm in Yucaipa. That mountain peak is a frequent subject of my photography. I like how you framed the scene with the trees.

I have not tried a polarizing filter yet, but to get the desired result I do a 5 exposure HDR. Merry Christmas! Maybe I'll see you around sometime taking photos.

katbandit Loc: new york city

a polarizing filter is great for these sort of shots..also for store windows etc..the second shot is much better..the mountain is brighter and crisp.the detail much more defined...nothing wrong with the polarizer here at all..

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

lighthouse wrote:

I don't think that is a fair comparison.
The light is totally different in the second shot.
A polariser does not make that much difference.
What time frame apart were the two photos taken.

The two shots were taken about 30 seconds apart, just long enough for me to turn the filter from one setting to the other. When the conditions are right, the difference can be dramatic.

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

camerapapi wrote:

I second this. Polarizers reduce or eliminate refl... (show quote)

But if there are clouds in the sky, it certainly brings them out!

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

RWR wrote:

The first shot is underexposed. If it had been properly exposed, the sky would have been lighter (probably too light). The main benefit of the polarizer was to darken the sky, and perhaps cut a bit of haze. This is, however, a good example of the proper use of a polarizer. Kudos!

Thank you! And yes, I do have a tendency to slightly underexposed my shots.
It's easier to bring detail from the shadows than to recover blown out highlights.

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

tomface wrote:

Hello Morris, we are neighbors, I'm in Yucaipa. That mountain peak is a frequent subject of my photography. I like how you framed the scene with the trees.

I have not tried a polarizing filter yet, but to get the desired result I do a 5 exposure HDR. Merry Christmas! Maybe I'll see you around sometime taking photos.

Hi Tom, and thanks for your comments! I love Yucaipa! Sometimes I head on up to Oak Glen trying for some bird or duck shots, but the best I've gotten so far was of a rather sad looking dragon fly, which I posted some time earlier.
I'm not sure even how to start with HDR, but it looks very useful.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

lighthouse wrote:

I don't think that is a fair comparison.
The light is totally different in the second shot.
A polariser does not make that much difference.
What time frame apart were the two photos taken.

"A polariser does not make that much difference" Yes it does. Can't you see the difference?

"What time frame apart were the two photos taken" They had to be taken seconds or minutes apart. Can't you see that the camera hasn't even moved. My guess is that it was on a tripod and a slight adjustment was the only difference.

"The light is totally different in the second shot" Doesn't look that way to me.

tomface Loc: California

dlmorris wrote:

Hi Tom, and thanks for your comments! I love Yucaipa! Sometimes I head on up to Oak Glen trying for some bird or duck shots, but the best I've gotten so far was of a rather sad looking dragon fly, which I posted some time earlier.
I'm not sure even how to start with HDR, but it looks very useful.

Go to the Yucaipa Regional Park on Oak Glen Road. There are 3 lakes and plenty of trees. This time of year is good for birds. There is a resident breeding pair of Osprey, and an occasional Bald Eagle, which I saw there yesterday. I'll try to attach a photo of a hawk that I got at the park yesterday.

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