Stone Cold Beginner - Polarized Filter Question

3 years 6 months ago #697585 by cdolan503
Hey everyone,
I am new to this forum and new to photography. I recently purchased a Nikon D3500. I know it's a bottom shelf camera, but I thought it would be a great way to dip my toes without breaking the bank. 

I do a lot of fishing in Charleston South Carolina and wanted to start adding photography to the mix. Long story short, I have read numerous articles on polarized filters and was hoping to receive a more straight forward answer. When on my boat, generally speaking, should I be using a polarized filter? Most shots will be action shots and pictures of them holding fish with landscape sprinkled in between. 
Any advice would be appreciated. 

Thank you very much


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3 years 6 months ago #697636 by db3348
Hi cdolan,

Welcome to the PhotographyTalk Forum .

The main value and purpose of polarisers  is to cut through or minimise reflections off reflective surfaces,  such as the water on your fishing trips.

Polarisers work by selectively filtering out light coming from and reflecting from certain angles from reflective surfaces such as glass, water, plastics, glossy paint finish .

But  you need to realise they only have distinct effect at certain angles to the light and the reflection ,  which needs some experimenting to see and master .

A polariser filter often has a little marker on the front of the filter,  which indicates the angle of maximum effect .  Once the filter is on your lens,  you turn the front section of the filter  to see which angle achieves the maximum, or at least sufficient ,  effect .

You will also notice that in many cases the colours of photo can be 'enhanced' by a polariser,  again because of reflectivity issues of the light where that colour is in a scene .  Sometimes the sky can look deeper blue and more dramatic,  sometimes greens  can look richer,  and  so on.   But  you  need to turn the front of the filter to see which rotation angle gives the most appealing effect .

cheers

db3348


Photo Comments
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3 years 6 months ago #697731 by fmw
I agree with that.  My advice is to save your desire for gadgets for a later time when you know why and how to use them.  Make a lot of images and learn effective digital image editing.  All will come in time.


Photo Comments
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3 years 6 months ago #697756 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day CD

Another 'Welcome' to the PT forum ~ you will find plenty of others here to offer "confusion" to you  :)
Firstly - do not bother yourself as to your actual camera or lens in use ,,,, a) we all start somewhere, and b) it is a tool just like a golf club of tennis racquet and your skills are what makes or breaks the results

A CPL filter can be a useful tool, especially when one realises how to use it correctly.  I see too many 'camera users' leaving it on the lens permanently without any adjustments ever taking place in the false belief that it will enhance all photos automatically

I am attaching a PDF for you to read/download if you wish explaining the use of filters including the pola filter.  It is written for a Panasonic users group but all the info is okay for your Nikon too

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

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Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

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