Polarising Filters: Why You Should Have One (And Know How To Use It).

In nature photography, filters are a must for some photographers and an absolute no-no for others. Some photographers insist that everything must be captured exactly as it was in nature, while others love the effects and enhancements they can get from a variety of filters.

I fall somewhere between the two camps. I always try to capture my subject in natural light without artificial effects…but sometimes conditions prevent me getting the shot I need without a little help. That’s why I have exactly one filter in my camera: a polarising filter.

A polariser is not much different to polarised sunglasses. It does not colour the photo, but it reduces glare and reflection. As a result, natural colours can appear stronger and more vibrant in your photos. The most obvious place this can be seen is in the sky, where a hazy sky can become a rich, saturated blue.

The difference between using the polariser and a blue filter, is that the polariser uses the natural colour of the sky, while the coloured filter adds artificial colour. A blue filter, for example would also turn white clouds a shade of blue, whereas the polariser leaves the clouds clear and white.

The polarising filter also increases the contrast between the sky and the clouds, making the cloud formation stand out more clearly against the background. An attractive cloud formation can be enriched to become a feature of real impact in your photo.

Polarising filters can be rotated on the lens to adjust the level of polarisation. It is important to practice with your polariser to get the most natural effects.

A polarising filter in the hands of an inexperienced photographer can be a frightening thing. You see, at maximum polarisation, the filter can produce some fairly extreme effects. The contrast in the sky can be so strong that some areas will become navy blue, even black. The saturation of other colours in the photo can also be exaggerated beyond recognition. These effects certainly add power and impact to a photo, but they can go far beyond any sense of the natural.

The trick with a polarising filter is to find a level that reduces the glare and provides a nice saturation of colour, while maintaining a natural appearance. This is a simple matter of rotating the filter on the camera until you find the right level, and with experience you will get the hang of it. (more…)