First Use of Polarizer

[zutty]

The more I learn the more I need to learn. I've just discovered the polarizer filter. I took my 1st shots with one on my 24-70 lens.

 

[SteveL54]

Blue snow in Maine?

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Are you using one of those Sing-Ray 'Gold and Blue' polarizing filters?

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[J-see]

Looks more like a WB issue to me. The cam got it wrong.

 

[Eyelight]

Does not look like a WB issue. Shadows appear blueish on snow at times. The recent shots I have of blue Kentucky snow are early morning light and come to think of it, the sun was at 90°, which is what the light appears in #2. I'm guessing the polarizer enhanced the blue. Would be interesting to know any post processing.

 

[J-see]

It's possible the CP has something to do with it and it saturated a "natural" blue cast.

I was goofing around with some of my snow shots a while ago and at some point ended up with blue snow too, at least the shadow parts, so maybe it is post.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Doesn't look like a WB issue to me either; there are "clean" whites in the shot if nothing else, even if some areas are unnaturally blue. My guess is that VERY CLEAR blue sky we see in the first shot caused the typical blue color-cast you get on a clear day to begin with. The white snow reflected that blueish light and the polarizing filter simply enhanced it. Anything done in post (e.g. Saturation or Vibrance) would enhance the color cast where it's the strongest to begin with even further.
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[zutty]

Yes it is a post proc flaw.....I was just messing around and got the blue snow...Here is the photo with no proc...btw..the polarizer is a Hoya HD-CIR-PL 77mm.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

btw..the polarizer is a Hoya HD-CIR-PL 77mm.

Nice... Personally, the Hoya HD's is my preferred CPL.
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[zutty]

Paul...I bought it on your recommendation...grin...but never having used one, I was a little confused when I first used it. On a very bright sunny day there was very little change in the viewfinder when rotating the filter, and on a drab cloudy day it really got dark with again no change when rotating. Is it wise to use the polarizer at all times? Also should I change the exposure setting and/or the WB settings on the camera? And what to do about the lens hood? It's hard to reach the filter to rotate when the hood is on.
Thanks my friend.

 

[Scott Murray]

Paul...I bought it on your recommendation...grin...but never having used one, I was a little confused when I first used it. On a very bright sunny day there was very little change in the viewfinder when rotating the filter, and on a drab cloudy day it really got dark with again no change when rotating. Is it wise to use the polarizer at all times? Also should I change the exposure setting and/or the WB settings on the camera? And what to do about the lens hood? It's hard to reach the filter to rotate when the hood is on.
Thanks my friend.

I think this should help you - Understanding & Using Polarizing Filters

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Paul...I bought it on your recommendation...grin...but never having used one, I was a little confused when I first used it. On a very bright sunny day there was very little change in the viewfinder when rotating the filter, and on a drab cloudy day it really got dark with again no change when rotating. Is it wise to use the polarizer at all times? Also should I change the exposure setting and/or the WB settings on the camera? And what to do about the lens hood? It's hard to reach the filter to rotate when the hood is on.
Thanks my friend.

Nope, you don't need to adjust your WB, or exposure settings, when using a CPL.

As for the lens hood issue, I don't adjust the CPL for every shot. What I do is gauge the conditions I'll be shooting in, set the CPL (I like light to moderate polarization most of the time (it's an easy thing to over-do in my opinion)) and then attach the hood. I only adjust the CPL when the shooting conditions change significantly. If you're making micro-adjustments for every shot, in my opinion, you're probably over-thinking things. Sometimes a CPL will have a big impact on your shot, other times not so much. But having shot with and without one for a long time, I can tell you... There's a lot more adverse reflective light "out there" than most people realize. Color and contrast are almost always just a little bit better when you have a CPL on and sometimes they're dramatically better. Lastly, since the Hoya HD filters, specifically, are made of significantly harder glass than most filters they also serve as a protective filter even when you don't need polarization; kind of a two-fer in my book. For the 10% of outdoor shots I take without the CPL, it's probably because I need the extra stop of light so the CPL comes off.

I think this should help you - Understanding & Using Polarizing Filters

Scott has provided a very good link, definitely read that over.

Here's my favorite video on the topic of using a CPL: How to Use a Polarizing Filter

 

[zutty]

Thanks Paul and Scott for the valuable advice. This site has been so helpful in my photographic education. As a musician I spent most of my youth studying and paying my dues. Now in photography, I don't have that luxury and get frustrated at times.....
Thanks again!