polarizing lens...

[trout bum]

I recently picked up a polarizing lens filter primarily for photographing trout. I was wondering what other times such a filter might be advantageous? I also got a neutral densiry filter for water shots and would like to know if it would serve in other circumstances. Thanks!

[ksbryan0]

You will find use for the polarizing filter just about any time you are shooting in a direction 90 degrees from the angle of the sunlight. It will help to remove/reduce relections, many that we are so used to, we don't realize they are their. I find that it gives landscape images a little punch when I use it, and quite often it makes weak, wispy clouds more pronounced in an otherwise boring sky. The ND filter is handy in times when you want a slow shutter speed. Doesn't necessarily need to be a water shot, sometimes to blur action, or in cases where there is simply too much sunlight to make the setting you want work.

[Greg McCary]

Anytime you are shooting over water or wet grass. Polarizers can cause color shifts that have to be corrected. With me it seems to put to much yellow in the greens. A poor quality filter can also cause images to be soft. So be careful.

[Singletracklovr]

I recently picked up a polarizing lens filter primarily for photographing trout. I was wondering what other times such a filter might be advantageous? I also got a neutral densiry filter for water shots and would like to know if it would serve in other circumstances. Thanks!

Hi TB,
I love shooting trout with a CIr-PL. I included one of mine below.
I use a polarizer anytime I am near water. Except cloudy days.
On sunny days it cuts the glare and intensifies color like no other. It also works well to darken a blue sky.

I would love to see some of your shots.

18" Rainbow Trout, a minnow compared to AK standards...

[n8]

There's usually a -2 exp factor...or so I hear...so perhaps they can double as ND filters of sorts.

[freygr]

There's usually a -2 exp factor...or so I hear...so perhaps they can double as ND filters of sorts.

Incorrect, the exposure factor on a polarization filter is one stop, which is 50% less light. So if the exposure without the polarizing filter is F8 and 1/500, with the filter it would be F5.6 and 1/500 or F8 and 1/250.