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Landscape Photography Using a Polarizer

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Polarizing Filter- Why Use One?

This is a brief explanation of why using a polarizing filter will improve your landscape photography.

A circular polarizing filter is the most often used filter, and is considered a necessity to a landscape photographer. In short, a polarizing filter will increase color and eliminate reflections in your image.

A polarizing filter is simple to use and is not an expensive piece of photo equipment, but it is essential to great landscape images. There are no excuses to not own and use a polarizing filter on your digital SLR. The improvement in your landscape photos will be worth the effort and you will question why you never used one before.

Contents at a Glance

How to Use the Polarizing Filter
The Effects of a Polarizer on an Overcas...
Polarizer Reduced Sun Reflection
Increased Color Saturation
Polarizing Filters on Amazon.com
Nature Images Blog

To use your polarizing filter, find the size filter to fit the lens you are currently using. (a 55mm polarizer for a 55mm lens etc).

Secondly, screw the filter onto the front end of the lens (nearest the subject). After the filter is snugly attached to the lens, rotate the filter. Look through the viewfinder as you rotate the filter and you will see the results immediately. Your landscape images will take on a whole new look. You will instantly see the more saturated colors, the blue skies and a reduction in the reflections.

If you stand at a 90 degree angle to the sun you will get the maximum effect from your polarizing filter. Do not stand with the sun in front of you or behind you to take the shot.
To see this image, click here

The Effects of a Polarizer on an Overcast Day

Many photographers believe a polarizer is only good for sunny days and improving blue skies, this is not true.

A polarizing filter, used properly, on an overcast day will saturate the colors of the wet leaves. You must be very careful on a low light day as a filter can make your images too dark. A polarizer will cut the amount of light reaching your film or sensor.

To counteract the decreased light; open the aperture or slow your shutter speed to compensate. If you make the compensation for the decreased light you will be pleasantly surprized with the outcome of using the polarizer.

To view this image, click here

Polarizer Reduced Sun Reflection

Increased Color Saturation

Polarizing Filters on Amazon.com

Here is a selection of fine polarizing filters to do a great job on your landscape photos.

Nature Images Blog

If you like to talk about your landscape or nature photography this may be the blog for you.

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Pitfalls of Using a Polarizing Filter

There are several pitfalls of using a polarizing filter. However, the advantages of using the filter far outweigh the pitfalls and most of the pitfalls can be avoided with a bit of knowledge.

First thing one needs to know about a polarizing filter is that there are 2 different types. One is the linear polarizing filter the other is the circular polarizing filter. Both do exactly the same thing for your images, enhance them. But the circular is more expensive and the linear may not be the best choice for most cameras that use autofocus.

A linear filter will often ruin the performance of autofocus, the camera is unable to transform the information correctly coming from the filter. A circular polarizing filter has an added layer which scrambles the filtered light coming from the polarizer and the camera is able to read the information more clearly.

The extra layer in the circular filter is the main reason the circular is more expensive. But as you can see it is often well worth the extra expense. Also, be sure when you purchase a filter that there is no color cast in the filter. Some filters come with an odd cast, green or yellowish color, make sure your filter has only a neutral grey cast.

Another problem encountered with polarizing filters is found when using wide angle lenses (28mm or wider). A wide angle lens may see the rim of your filter, causing a darkening at the edges of the image. Also, the sky can become unevenly polarized as polarization varies with the angle of the sun and a wide angle lens covers a wider area of the sky.

Even with a few pitfalls, the results achieved with a circular polarized filter are definitely well worth the price of the filter.

Try a polarizing filter and I feel sure you will love the results. It will take your images to a whole new level.

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Landscape Photography Using a Polarizer

Polarizing Filter- Why Use One?

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

How to Use the Polarizing Filter

The Effects of a Polarizer on an Overcast Day

Polarizing Filters on Amazon.com

Nature Images Blog

Pitfalls of Using a Polarizing Filter

Vote for the Best

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