Oct 11 2007
Jack Loves Jackie, That Much I Know
Jackie just got a new toy and she asked for a little information to get her started. I’ll edit this post as I get the time so I’ll start with your new polarizing filter. I’ll give you my minute amount of knowledge but you can easily do a web search and find sites like this.
One of the most important things is to ensure you have a circular polarizer or it simply will not work. If it’s linear you need to go and exchange it. Linear filters will not work with TTL (through the lens) metering systems (which you have).
As for the use, here’s an example from one of my shots of the effect. Note the rich blue of the sky and the contrast with the clouds. The color saturation in the photo is due mostly to the polarizing filter too, not, as you may have suspected, post processed in Photoshop. That specific photo I posted just to show how a shot can turn out with minimal post processing.
Once you’ve attached the filter, point the camera at the sky and look through the eyepiece. Slowly rotate the filter with your fingers and watch how the polarization changes. This is necessary when you’re shooting with the filter attached or you will not get the right angle of polarization. You can see how the sky darkens as you rotate. Note that you may notice vignetteing in the corners of your photos at certain focal lengths (I think that’s the cause anyway). Try the same thing with reflections. Point the camera at a shop window and rotate the filter to see how it cuts down or cuts out the reflections. You may have to change your physical position too.
That’s about the extent of my knowledge on polarizing filters. Trial and error is where it’s at. Have fun!
Jackie loves Jack too,
and Joe and Dave for always giving me their expert help.
There were two lenses and three filters in the bag. Two of the filters were for protection only and the third was the circular polarizing filter. I tried it on the wrong lens and that’s why it didn’t fit lol. Not much cause to use a macro lens on the sky eh? The sun has finally come out and I’m gonna try the right filter on the right lens and go play with some sky/water pics!
Thanks Joe. I’m looking forward to some more Photo School with Joe.
Jackie, have you seen Kathleen Connally’s work over at Durham Township? I think you might like it. Go to her archives and check out some of her earlier work too. She processed those photos more so than now but sometimes I prefer her processed work to her “straight” work. Oh and I really like the header photo Dave used on the Willoughby site. Nice work :)
Hi Joe,
Thanks for the link. I’m going to go back and check it out more thoroughly.
Jack didn’t like my “processed” photos with the Orton effect because he said they all looked like Thomas Kinkaide!
He called back 5 minutes later to apologize : )
Anyhoo - did I send you these links? This one is to a gallery of shots from Holden Arboretum
http://fun4allkaraoke.jskdragonflydesign.com/Aug30.2007_webgallery/index.htm
And this one is more of the shots for the Willoughby site. I didn’t do anything to these ones. We were in a rush and only played with the one Dave picked.
http://fun4allkaraoke.jskdragonflydesign.com/CityofWilloughby/index.htm
Oh - and the Walmart was a joke. I told Dave that was for the Eastlake website lol.