Using a Polorizer to Saturate Colors

[mjordan]

I know a polorizer is mostly used for blocking reflections and bounced light off of non-metalic subjects and that it works best when the sun is 90 degrees or so from the direction you are shooting. I also see people using it to bring out colors more, even when the sun is in other than the optimum position or even when it's not showing, like afte sunset and before sunrise.

I've never used a polorizer for saturation (actually, I've not used one much at all). Will the polorizer work to saturate colors even when the sun is below the horizon or behind clouds and you don't have a lot of reflections or glare? Or does it just increase the exposure time in these cases? I've read some of the links that have been posted, and though they mention that it will increase saturation, they don't really talk about using it in these situations, if it's helpful or not.

Thanks for any information.

Mike

[Conk]

Like a nuetral density filter you will lose 2-3 f-stops. Your darks will be darker and your lights will be darker but the lights will indeed be more saturated. Just like putting on a good pair of sunglasses. What you see is pretty much what you'll get.
I've stopped using the polorizer so much now unless it is necessary. I find using it to saturate color is not worth losing the speed.

[robertwgross]

I use a polarizer for saturating the blue of the sky, and that is about it. It seems to augment the whiteness of clouds, but that may be because it simply cuts out the haze and glare.

I don't think that very many photographers do much before sunrise or after sunset (except perhaps me). The sky tends to be so damned dark, that if you knock the light down by two more stops, due to the polarizer, it is going to take four times as long to get the already long exposure. Now, a graduated neutral density filter before sunrise, I can understand.

By the way, my favorite shooting time is about 45 minutes before sunrise.

---Bob Gross---

[c0ntr0lz]

here is a good example

http://ctrlzproduction.com/images/show%5F7%5F3%5F04/images/IMG_1901.jpg

http://ctrlzproduction.com/images/show%5F7%5F3%5F04/images/IMG_1902.jpg

you can see that you can do both

[scottbergerphoto]

Like a nuetral density filter you will lose 2-3 f-stops. Your darks will be darker and your lights will be darker but the lights will indeed be more saturated. Just like putting on a good pair of sunglasses. What you see is pretty much what you'll get.
I've stopped using the polorizer so much now unless it is necessary. I find using it to saturate color is not worth losing the speed.
I don't believe that is accurate. Your camera meter will make up for the loss of two stops by lengthening the exposure or picking a wider aperture. The camera doesn't know if your using a filter or not. It measures the amount of light and gives a reading. The only way to get into trouble is in Manual mode if you set your camera using a hand held meter without adding the filter factor.
Scott

[sdommin]

Will the polorizer work to saturate colors even when the sun is below the horizon or behind clouds and you don't have a lot of reflections or glare? Or does it just increase the exposure time in these cases?

The polarizer saturates colors by eliminating the reflections that "desaturate" the colors. It won't add saturation that isn't already there. And, it will increase your exposure time, too.

[mjordan]

Thanks a lot for the comments. You all said pretty much what I thought, but since I've not used a polorizer that much and it seems like a lot of landscape photographers use them from before sunup to after sundown, so I was wondering if I was missing anything. I just bought one last week but I've not had a chance to go out and test it for myself yet. Will I will as soon as I can get out on the Columbia Gorge again in a week or so.


I had to flip back and forth on the car to see a difference. I finally saw that the rear view mirror on the 2nd one can be seen a lot better than on the first one. Color saturation seems to be the same on both though. Nice vivid red.


Thanks all!

Mike

[Conk]

Like a nuetral density filter you will lose 2-3 f-stops. Your darks will be darker and your lights will be darker but the lights will indeed be more saturated. Just like putting on a good pair of sunglasses. What you see is pretty much what you'll get.
I've stopped using the polorizer so much now unless it is necessary. I find using it to saturate color is not worth losing the speed.
I don't believe that is accurate. Your camera meter will make up for the loss of two stops by lengthening the exposure or picking a wider aperture. The camera doesn't know if your using a filter or not. It measures the amount of light and gives a reading. The only way to get into trouble is in Manual mode if you set your camera using a hand held meter without adding the filter factor.
Scott

Ok Scott. I guess I'll have to play around with the polorizer some more. :)