CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

So I was out along Lake Michigan yesterday morning at dawn. I was at several places but want to ask about a situation where I shot from a bridge looking out onto the lake with the sun in both my eyes visually and well as reflecting off the water. So I grabbed my brand new, first time using B+W KSM C-POL filter. Upon screwing it in I realized there's no markings on it as in 'lines here' ... I did a few rotations but maybe I was just overwhelmed by the sun in my eyes. Maybe it was that I was making quarter turns looking at the lens with the sun at my back rather than looking through the view finder? Later last night I held the filter in front of my eyes and rotated on a reflection coming off a metal bowl. I could watch the reflection come and go as I rotated the filter. But, I'm surprised that's all you can do: trial and error. Thoughts?

GPappy Loc: Finally decided to plop down, Clover, S.C.

For a cp to work as it was designed you must be perpendicular to the light source, not looking into it or with it behind you. It will reduce glare on reflective surfaces. It will also darken a blue sky somewhat. What else did you expect it to do?

:?: :?: :?: :-)

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

You need to have the sun at right angles to whatever it is that you are focusing on: some CPL's say 30 degrees, but I have found that 45 degrees works well. CPL's take the reflection off water, allowing you to see under the surface. They take the shine off green leaves, allowing the colour to be seen. They make blue skies more blue, and if there are any clouds, CPL's make them more defined and whiter. They will also help bring out the colours of a rainbow, as long as the sun is at right angles to it. I carry one whenever I am out doing landscapes, and can usually find that my image will be improved in some way with its' use. I also use one if I am out with my 100mm macro lens, as it very often deepens the colour of lichens, and helps definition on things like fungus.

To use it, you set it up on the camera, put the camera to your eye (better than the screen if you have the facility) and rotate the ring until you get the "best" result, "best" being in your own eye i.e. as much or as little polarisation as seems best to you. Be careful when taking landscapes or buildings with a blue sky: too much polarisation can turn the sky almost black. That's an example of the "best" result: less being better in that case. Hope this helps.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I am surprised that you were able to eliminate with your polarizer reflections from a metallic surface. Polarizers eliminate reflections from non-metallic surfaces.
In general they have a filter factor of 2 stops at full polarization and has been already stated they work best when the sun is on the side. They are not very good for use with wide angles because of areas of non polarization in the sky when using the wide angle.
I usually use my polarizer to cut down the 2 stops of light required for the filter effect. That is the way I shoot falls in the shade to slow down the shutter speed.
By the way, matrix or evaluative metering can get confused if metering through the filter because of its dark color. I meter first, open 2 stops and then fit the filter to the lens.
When I was using film darkening the sky was my main use of the polarizer but with digital I do not do that any more, rather use the filter to reduce or eliminate reflections.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

CPL filters work well in many situations regardless of your position to the sun. They will help when shooting the moon also. You are correct that you can't set the CPL as you can with f-stops and aperture or ISO. It is a matter turning it so you get the look you want. Use live view for this process.

CO

I have two Promaster and one Nikon circular polarizers. The Promaster ones have a little white triangle on the side. When you rotate the filter so that the triangle is towards the sun (with the sun to your side) you get the maximum amount of polarization.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thanks everyone. Sounds like Promaster 'gets it' in terms of an icon on the filter ... I probably didn't pick the best application for a trial run in the field ...

raysass Loc: Brooklin, On, Canada.

Great idea to use live view. :thumbup:

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

By Photosarah.."They will also help bring out the colours of a rainbow, as long as the sun is at right angles to it."
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To physically see, and photograph a rainbow, the sun must be at your back..(180 degrees).To polarize the sky area, the sun needs to be at approx' 90 degrees.So......how can you have the sun in two different places. When photographing a rainbow, a polar filter might slightly darken the sky, but that is due to the grey density of the filter, NOT polarization.