Test Of My Circular Polarizer: I took these two pictures with the polarizer one turned to the maximum effect and the other at minimum. Both shots are with a telephoto at 100mm and at...

Wheezer1

I took these two pictures with the polarizer one turned to the maximum effect and the other at minimum. Both shots are with a telephoto at 100mm and at f/29. I used a ND8 filter to keep the ship and pine branches in focus. The colors are brighter with more detail in the clouds..I'm going to have to get this filter out of my camera bag more often.. Wheezer

Circular Polarizer Filter at Maximum

Circular Polarizer Filter at Minimum

ftpecktim Loc: MONTANA

It passed the test!!!

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

"I used a ND8 filter to keep the ship and pine branches in focus."

I don't understand this statement, Wheezer. An ND8 would require either a larger aperture (thus limiting depth-of-field) or a longer shutter duration (having no effect on depth-of-field).

Julian Loc: Sarasota, FL

As much as circular polarizers can assist in eliminating reflections thus enhancing the true colors of certain objects and scenes, they can also give some photographs an artificial and unrealistic appearance; even though you managed to darken the sky and bring out the clouds, the water, being the most predominant part of the scene did not look real in terms of what the naked eye would perceive: the reflection from the waves was taken away by the polarizer making the water look like a green blob while showing an unnatural view of the sand below its surface.

Nevertheless, if the purpose of the photograph was to enhance the foreground and the tree's true colors, then you accomplished your goals.

Why the ND8 filter?

twowindsbear

Why not level the camera to the horizon?

billypip Loc: nottingham England

Ditto on the NDfilter ???????

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Julian wrote:

...the water, being the most predominant part of the scene did not look real in terms of what the naked eye would perceive: the reflection from the waves was taken away by the polarizer making the water look like a green blob while showing an unnatural view of the sand below its surface....

This raises an interesting question about photographs and all visual art. Does the creator want to reproduce the scene accurately or artistically? In this case, I prefer the latter.

The white balance is off and I think that correcting it would improve the picture.

As others have said, there is no need for a ND8 filter. However, a graduated neutral density filter is a partial alternative to the polarizer. I prefer the polarizer when they work. Rather than dial it back, I would have removed it and picked up a few stops in exposure.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Danilo wrote:

"I used a ND8 filter to keep the ship and pine branches in focus."

I don't understand this statement, Wheezer. An ND8 would require either a larger aperture (thus limiting depth-of-field) or a longer shutter duration (having no effect on depth-of-field).

I too, am confused. Every CPL I have does not have max and min settings, you turn it to get the best image you want. However, I have variable ND filters that have min and max settings. Can you explain your question better?

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

chapjohn wrote:

quote=Danilo "I used a ND8 filter to keep th... (show quote)

I'm sure he just means maximum effect or darkening of the water/sky. The title of this thread is 'Test of CPL Filter'.

I'm also of the opinion that it is too much. The sky is too lavender and the water hasn't much detail. A little adjustment of the filter might tone that down a bit.

If the intention of this thread is to show (test) with and without a CPL (CPL adjusted for most effect) then that's cool. But with all the lavender in the sky I just can't like it. Make sure that when you upload your images that you're using sRGB color space. If you use ProPhotoRGB and forget to convert then the sky will look lavender too.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

jeep_daddy wrote:

...Every CPL I have does not have max and min settings, you turn it to get the best image you want. However, I have variable ND filters that have min and max settings. Can you explain your question better?

I'm sure he just means maximum effect or darkening of the water/sky. The title of this thread is 'Test of CPL Filter'.

I'm also of the opinion that it is too much. The sky is too lavender and the water hasn't much detail. A little adjustment of the filter might tone that down a bit....[/quote]

Some polarizers have a mark to line up with the sun for maximal polarization. You still have to be perpendicular to the sun and the fewer the clouds and less the haze, the more the effect.

The sky is lavender due to incorrect white balance, not polarization. Look at the clouds. They should be white and they are not.

The water lacks detail because the polarizer removed the reflections that give the waves detail. The richness of color makes up for the waves.

Wheezer1

Danilo, your exactly right, I gave it some more thought later and realized it didn't help DOF at all. The ND filter was new to me, I was playing with that and the polarizing filter..The sun was bright and I wanted to use the smallest aperture, highest F/stop..Could have left the ND filter off and used a higher shutter speed..I'm learning..Thanks for setting this right.

Danilo wrote:

"I used a ND8 filter to keep the ship and pine branches in focus."

I don't understand this statement, Wheezer. An ND8 would require either a larger aperture (thus limiting depth-of-field) or a longer shutter duration (having no effect on depth-of-field).

Wheezer1

You Guys all caught my mistake, pretty sharp group of people on this forum..I think the combination of the polarizing filter and the ND filter affected the colors a bit too much..Thanks for all your replies..

Julian wrote:

As much as circular polarizers can assist in elimi... (show quote)

AdkHiker Loc: Northeast

The is a great discussion....what would have happened with a graduated ND filter? Would it have brought out the clouds and left the sea alone?

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

I agree with the other comments that you over polarized. Turn until you get a balance. If you wanted to remove all you did a great job. I once made the mistake of over doing this in a picture I did of a fish pond. The fish looked like they were floating in mid air. Used this slide when I taught a beginner class in a college course to show what not to do.

Wheezer1

I might have to write a book on my past mistakes but that might be a mistake too..Wheezer

MCHUGH wrote:

I agree with the other comments that you over polarized. Turn until you get a balance. If you wanted to remove all you did a great job. I once made the mistake of over doing this in a picture I did of a fish pond. The fish looked like they were floating in mid air. Used this slide when I taught a beginner class in a college course to show what not to do.