Polarizing Gels

Anybody have any experience using a flash with a polarizing gel in conjunction with a CPL to knock down glare on eyeglasses and/or anything else that could show glare in a composition?

I did it shooting glassware back in college (the dark ages) using strobes and a view camera. I remember it being a total pain in the ass to get the orientation correct so the filters were aligned. That was using a linear polarizer as it was film so I guess my correct answer would be nope, havent tried it.

When you got the orientation correct did it have an appreciable effect, or can you remember back to that Paleolithic Age?

windpig wrote in post #16129075
When you got the orientation correct did it have an appreciable effect, or can you remember back to that Paleolithic Age?

Yes, it helped considerably. But I do remember walking away from the experience thinking its not a great option for most product shots. I think it would be even worse with portraits where the camera angle would change as well as the angle of reflectance of the glass in the shot.

I appreciate your thoughts. I think I'm just going to have to give it a go and see what the combo is capable of.

windpig wrote in post #16129102
I appreciate your thoughts. I think I'm just going to have to give it a go and see what the combo is capable of.

It couldnt hurt, and the gels are pretty reasonable.

$45 for a 17" X 20"
$232 for 17" X 120"

windpig wrote in post #16129189
$45 for a 17" X 20"
$232 for 17" X 120"

Thats more than I remember, might want to start with speedlte sides gels to test the hypothesis.

I'm with you on that.

The one thing I'm concerned with is loosing specular highlights that I want. My application would be primarily for portraiture.

windpig wrote in post #16129055
Anybody have any experience using a flash with a polarizing gel in conjunction with a CPL to knock down glare on eyeglasses and/or anything else that could show glare in a composition?

A CPL makes the hair look awful.

bit it may look good if they're bald. I think you've mentioned something in the past about not liking what CPLs do to peoples looks. Then again, I'm old and feeble and don't remember squat.

Hmm, certainly interesting looking.

windpig wrote in post #16129318
bit it may look good if they're bald. I think you've mentioned something in the past about not liking what CPLs do to peoples looks. Then again, I'm old and feeble and don't remember squat.

yeah I do not like them. I will composite in if I need to shoot with a CPL

windpig wrote in post #16129055
Anybody have any experience using a flash with a polarizing gel in conjunction with a CPL to knock down glare on eyeglasses and/or anything else that could show glare in a composition?

I seem to recall that the fundamental way to eliminate glare from many common objects, such as eyeglasses, is with two linear polarizers. One linear polarizer on the light source, and another linear polarizer the camera's lens. I think the general term for this methodology is "cross polarization".

This is obviously cumbersome, yet effective overhead that will produce the desired result.

I have personally not tried this methodology, only almost resorted to it numerous times by compromising my needs at the expense of living with some glare.

Enjoy! Lon