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03 September 2012

Digital Camera Basics - Ways To Use A Polarizing Filter

By Dan Feildman




Digital photography basics, tips and tricks to turn you into a better digital photographer, simply by understanding how your camera works.

A polarizing filter is actually one really useful filters you might own. In my opinion, it should be the very first filter you get. These filters work through decreasing the glare that appears on countless objects. For instance glare from tiny water droplets in the atmosphere that may distort the color of the sky.

If the glare on objects becomes reduced it brings about a lot more color saturation and more contrast within the image. You'll find that the sky looks bluer and leaves look greener. It is also ideal for capturing pictures of water because it cuts down on the amount of reflection you'll get on the surface allowing you to see the details within the water. These effects make this filter popular for landscape photography.

Below is a much better explanation in regards to what a polarizing filter will do.

Water - The filter can get rid of glare to make the water seem more transparent. You'll be able to capture specifics under the surface of crystal clear water and you'll be able to get the specifics on the surface of very cloudy water. To get water to look the most transparent capture from above aiming down into the body of water.

Glass - If you have ever attempted to shoot a photo through glass you probably know how complicated it can be. The glare from the glass invariably ends up in your picture. If you utilize a filter you get rid of any glare creating a translucent surface in order to shoot through.

Sky - Tiny droplets of water within the environment reflect light producing glare on your images. When you eliminate that glare you get skies which are a much more intense blue. Such filters are great for avoiding white overexposed skies. This works best any time the sun is at a ninety degree angle to your filter.

Colors - These filters will amp up the colors in your photos by reducing the glare that usually lightens colors. It will be especially detectable on foliage.

Polarizing filters screw into the face of the lens. Spherical filters are most frequently used and may be fine-tuned by turning them. As you turn the front part of the filter the colors will change within the image. It is possible to alter the filter to get the result you're looking for before taking the photo. These kinds of filters are quite dense and shouldn't be used with lenses wider than 28mm. On wider angle lenses the edges of the filter will distort the edges of the image giving you a vignetting effect. You can purchase finer filters, but these can be expensive.

It's also advisable to avoid using such filters to take panoramic pictures since you will end up getting different color properties in the pictures that will make it difficult to piece the pictures together into a continuous picture. These types of filters will be dark and so you'll need to modify your exposure appropriately. Open up your aperture wider or lengthen the shutter time to permit the correct quantity of light to get on the sensor. You may want to use a tripod to keep your camera still. Avoid using this filter in low light situations and on overcast days. These filters are rather dark and will simply make your images too dark in these conditions.




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