A Polarizer in the 1 Lens Filter All Photographers Must Have (VIDEO)
We’re going to start out with a couple important questions: Have you ever captured a photo through water or glass and been totally let down by ugly reflections? Or perhaps your skies look flat and boring even on clear days. In these situations and others there’s a “ridiculously simple” solution that delivers reduced glare, clearer skies, and vibrant colors straight out of the camera.
Here’s how instructor Anthony Crothers explains his goal for today: “I’ll show you why a circular polarizing filter is one of the most power yet underrated tools in photography, and how to use it like a pro.” Once brings you up to speed in barely four minutes your outdoor photos will have more punch and clarity forever more.
Crothers’ popular YouTube channel is all about helping beginner and intermediate shooters build confidence and improve their skills one video at a time, and today he uses several landscape shots to illustrate why this little accessory should be your best friend. As you’ll see, the polarizer differs from most filters because of its rotating ring than enables you to adjust an image to perfection.
You may be surprised to learn that the value of this essential filter transcends scenes with water or glass. In fact, it will also dramatically darken pale blue skies and increase saturation of subjects like flowers and birds when micro reflections can easily mute their beautiful colors. Simply thread one onto your lens, follow Crother’s advice, be aware of a few possible mistakes, and you’ll super impressed by the results.
Crothers explains that as you rotate the front ring on the filter it blocks certain light rays from hitting the camera’s sensor. This isn’t about darkening a photo, but rather “transforming how the camera sees light. As the episode proceeds you’ll also learn several creative uses for your new friend.
Crothers describes the impact on exposure, and why your angle relative to the sun is another important consideration. And the best part is that all the filter’s benefits are visible in the viewfinder as you rotate its front ring right or left to increase or lessen the effect.
There’s a lot more to learn on Anthony’s instructional YouTube channel, so make sure to visit and explore.
And don’t miss the related tutorial we featured with a post-processing expert who reveals a simple Lightroom/Photoshop trick for fixing photographs with uneven polarized skies that have blotches and harsh transitions.
