A little more about polarizers at DVinfo.net

Dan Carter · June 8th, 2011, 04:03 PM

Another well done polarizing filter demonstration.

Corey Graham · June 8th, 2011, 05:58 PM

Polarizers are my all-time favorite filters. Every time I get a lens with a new thread size, the first thing I do is get a polarizer for it.

Jeff Harper · June 8th, 2011, 08:38 PM

Dan, this is the tutorial I needed, thanks. I love her explanation of things.

Mark Slade · June 8th, 2011, 11:58 PM

Jeff.....Keep this in mind. Polarizers remove light reflections from non metalic surfaces when you are shooting about 90 degrees angle to the sun. Not all light from one direction as she states.

Mark

Jeff Harper · June 9th, 2011, 07:41 AM

Thanks Mark, I didn't get to that point in the video, I had to go to bed, but will re-watch it with your caveat in mind!

Jeff Harper · June 9th, 2011, 07:45 AM

By the time I've got the essentials down for using the GH2, I will actually have the knowedlge and experience to take some halfway decent photos, not just video.

This is an advantage of using these cameras for me, as I've wanted to learn more about photography anyway!

Corey Graham · June 9th, 2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

This is an advantage of using these cameras for me, as I've wanted to learn more about photography anyway!

Other than the stunning video quality, this is my favorite thing about using the GH1. When shooting a wedding, I snap some stills that I use for DVD packaging artwork -- it sure beats having to request them from the hired photographer!

Patrick Janka · June 12th, 2011, 12:18 PM

Love her site. The way she talks about ring lights makes me want to put a ring on her finger.

Charles Papert · June 12th, 2011, 05:15 PM

Well yes, she is completely adorable and I could probably listen to to her talk about Ring-Dings for 4 minutes as well, but it's worth mentioning that the idea is not always to remove reflections to reveal the "true color" of everything in nature. It's an artistic choice to be made on a case-by-case basis. In the first example, she illustrates how a polarizer can take a beautiful reflection in the water and turn it into murky pea soup (yes, it's the true color of the water--but is it what you want?).

So I'll augment Ms. Olivia's demo by saying that picking the times to use a pola is something that comes with practice and experimentation.

I generally use them to deepen blue skies, which is when the 90 degree rule Mark mentioned comes into effect--they don't do anything for the sky when the sun is behind or in front of you, only to one side or the other. Mark, your statement is a little confused I believe--a pola will still work on reflections regardless of sun position. A good example is a car windshield (another great use of a pola); you can dial out a great deal of sky or cloud reflection in glass when angled at 45 degrees (that's why windshields are perfect for this), regardless of one's orientation to the sun.

Finally--polarizers are not light switches, they are continuously variable, so it's worth considering a partial effect in many cases. Given Olivia's first example again, I might set the pola to a 50% effect, which would increase saturation in the greens but still retain some reflection in the water. When shooting a hood mount setup on a traveling car, it's tempting to dial out all of the reflections on the windshield but if your path takes you through a nice looking overhead canopy of trees, it might be a good choice to allow a small amount of reflection to remain. Again--it's a total choice.

it's also not an all or nothing proposition, you may want to just dial out a partial amount of reflection or deepen skies halfway so they don't look too saturated.

Brian Luce · June 12th, 2011, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Papert

Well yes, she is completely adorable and I could probably listen to to her talk about Ring-Dings for 4 minutes as well, but it's worth mentioning that the idea is not always to remove reflections to reveal the "true color" of everything in nature. It's an artistic choice to be made on a case-by-case basis. In the first example, she illustrates how a polarizer can take a beautiful reflection in the water and turn it into murky pea soup (yes, it's the true color of the water--but is it what you want?).

.

Yes, I liked Olivia's video, but I thought the shot looked better without the filter, but it was nonetheless illustrative.

Jeff Harper · June 12th, 2011, 09:05 PM

The main benefit for to me is they really improve the look of grass and foilage in bright sunlight. Blue skies are a nice bonus when needed, but I value most the shots of couples amongst greenery and how much nicer, warmer things look with a polarizer.

Eric Lagerlof · June 16th, 2011, 09:56 AM

I love what polarizers do as well, especially what they do with skies. But I agree with Charles and would like to add that on some textures such as the roof shingles of the building in the 2nd demo that textures can look so flat that they look kinda weird. Also, besides car chrome and glass reflections they can 'darken' down street asphalt, another nice benefit.

June 8th, 2011, 04:03 PM	#1
Dan Carter Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 366	A little more about polarizers Another well done polarizing filter demonstration. Polarizing Filters for Photo and Video on Vimeo __________________ Dan Carter: HDC-TM700, DMC-GH2 and DMC-GH3, Sony RX100II and RX10, Final Cut Pro X http://www.vimeo.com/user582748

June 8th, 2011, 05:58 PM	#2
Corey Graham Major Player Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Erie, PA Posts: 390	Re: A little more about polarizers Polarizers are my all-time favorite filters. Every time I get a lens with a new thread size, the first thing I do is get a polarizer for it. __________________ http://coreygraham.me http://coreygrahamweddings.com

June 8th, 2011, 08:38 PM	#3
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: A little more about polarizers Dan, this is the tutorial I needed, thanks. I love her explanation of things. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

June 8th, 2011, 11:58 PM	#4
Mark Slade Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 121	Re: A little more about polarizers Jeff.....Keep this in mind. Polarizers remove light reflections from non metalic surfaces when you are shooting about 90 degrees angle to the sun. Not all light from one direction as she states. Mark

June 9th, 2011, 07:41 AM	#5
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: A little more about polarizers Thanks Mark, I didn't get to that point in the video, I had to go to bed, but will re-watch it with your caveat in mind! __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

June 9th, 2011, 07:45 AM	#6
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: A little more about polarizers By the time I've got the essentials down for using the GH2, I will actually have the knowedlge and experience to take some halfway decent photos, not just video. This is an advantage of using these cameras for me, as I've wanted to learn more about photography anyway! __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described." Last edited by Jeff Harper; June 9th, 2011 at 10:58 AM.

June 12th, 2011, 12:18 PM	#8
Patrick Janka Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 623	Re: A little more about polarizers Love her site. The way she talks about ring lights makes me want to put a ring on her finger.

June 12th, 2011, 05:15 PM	#9
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: A little more about polarizers Well yes, she is completely adorable and I could probably listen to to her talk about Ring-Dings for 4 minutes as well, but it's worth mentioning that the idea is not always to remove reflections to reveal the "true color" of everything in nature. It's an artistic choice to be made on a case-by-case basis. In the first example, she illustrates how a polarizer can take a beautiful reflection in the water and turn it into murky pea soup (yes, it's the true color of the water--but is it what you want?). So I'll augment Ms. Olivia's demo by saying that picking the times to use a pola is something that comes with practice and experimentation. I generally use them to deepen blue skies, which is when the 90 degree rule Mark mentioned comes into effect--they don't do anything for the sky when the sun is behind or in front of you, only to one side or the other. Mark, your statement is a little confused I believe--a pola will still work on reflections regardless of sun position. A good example is a car windshield (another great use of a pola); you can dial out a great deal of sky or cloud reflection in glass when angled at 45 degrees (that's why windshields are perfect for this), regardless of one's orientation to the sun. Finally--polarizers are not light switches, they are continuously variable, so it's worth considering a partial effect in many cases. Given Olivia's first example again, I might set the pola to a 50% effect, which would increase saturation in the greens but still retain some reflection in the water. When shooting a hood mount setup on a traveling car, it's tempting to dial out all of the reflections on the windshield but if your path takes you through a nice looking overhead canopy of trees, it might be a good choice to allow a small amount of reflection to remain. Again--it's a total choice. it's also not an all or nothing proposition, you may want to just dial out a partial amount of reflection or deepen skies halfway so they don't look too saturated. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

June 12th, 2011, 09:05 PM	#11
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: A little more about polarizers The main benefit for to me is they really improve the look of grass and foilage in bright sunlight. Blue skies are a nice bonus when needed, but I value most the shots of couples amongst greenery and how much nicer, warmer things look with a polarizer. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

June 16th, 2011, 09:56 AM	#12
Eric Lagerlof Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pacifica, CA Posts: 348	Re: A little more about polarizers I love what polarizers do as well, especially what they do with skies. But I agree with Charles and would like to add that on some textures such as the roof shingles of the building in the 2nd demo that textures can look so flat that they look kinda weird. Also, besides car chrome and glass reflections they can 'darken' down street asphalt, another nice benefit.