How to use Circular Polarizing Filter?

[markubig]

I bought a Hoya circular polarizing filter last week for my Tamron 28-75. I used it for the NYC car show, but didn't exactly know what I was doing with it. I was basically just turning it until I saw the reflections/bright lights disappear from the cars' bodys or windows. Is that what you're supposed to do . . . just turn it until you get the look you want?

Also, i have a party coming up this weekend, where we will probably be both indoors and outdoors . . . will i be able to use the CP for both indoor and out? Do I even want it on for people shots?

thanks in advance!

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[robertwgross]

Mostly, I use a circular polarizer for outdoor shots with lots of visible blue sky and clouds. Normally, the biggest effect is when you are shooting at a ninety degree angle from the sun. In other words, shooting toward the sun and away from the sun generally gets zero effect from a polarizer. Using it on a normal focal length lens works pretty good. If you use it on a lens that is super wide, then often you get a deep blue sky on one side and a pale blue sky on the other side, which looks kind of fakey. If you use it on a super long lens, it works, but the polarizer throws away as much as two stops of light, and that is often a big penalty on a super long lens.

For a year after I first started using one, I always cranked it around to maximum effect. Later, I learned that a partial polarized shot may get a nice but more natural effect. So much depends on the sun angle.

Also, you can use it as a neutral density filter if you need to get the silky waterfall effect and you don't have a real neutral density filter with you.

---Bob Gross---

[mbze430]

Yep, you can cancel reflections, from car bodies, water, and glass...and anything else. You can use it to darken the sky.

[Raj]

I was basically just turning it until I saw the reflections/bright lights disappear from the cars' bodys or windows. Is that what you're supposed to do . . . just turn it until you get the look you want?
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I think so.
Can someone more experienced confirm this ? :-)

Thanks

[mbze430]

That's a big YES.

[markubig]

Thanks for your responses guys!

So are you saying that it's probably most useful on landscapes, where there's a lot of sky or water? Should I even bother putting it on for the party that I have this weekend that will be both indoor and outdoor?

Thanks!

[Jesper]

Understanding Polarizers (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/polarizers.shtml)

For making photos at a party, especially indoors, I'd leave the polarizer home - it isn't very useful for people shots. Remember that a polarizer filter takes away between 1 and 2 stops of light, so you would need to open up the aperture or slow down the shutter speed by a factor of 2 to 4 when you use a polarizer.

[ohenry]

Polarizers will NOT reduce reflections from metallic surfaces. Non-metallic only.