polarised filter, yes no ?

callumduff

callumduff

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Callum
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hi, im looking into buying a polarised filter, is it worth it or should i just buy a normal clear filter ? if so, what are the benefits ?
 
oh right, cheers :)
 
A clear filter only offer protection it won't improve your images in anyway and if you buy a cheap one may make them worse.

A polariser is just about the only filter you can't really simulate in post processing which is why I would say it was essential if you soot pictures of landscapes or anything shiny!
 
thank you
 
a1ex2001 said:
A clear filter only offer protection it won't improve your images in anyway and if you buy a cheap one may make them worse.

A polariser is just about the only filter you can't really simulate in post processing which is why I would say it was essential if you soot pictures of landscapes or anything shiny!
Click to expand...

Technically, there is a way to simulate polarised sky effects in software, someone discovered a method that involves messing about with the blue and red channels of an image that does a fairly good job of mimicing a polariser. It can't bring back blown skies that would have been nice and contrasty with a proper CPL, but it does a fairly good job nonetheless. It also reduces reflections a little, but not enough to simulate non-landscape use.

http://www.bernskiold.com/2011/07/22/mimicking-polarizing-filter-effect-photoshop/

gives one implementation of the technique, but there are others (the one I remember trying involved copying the red channel into the blue channel or something like that)

Ah, here it is, this is the one I tried:

http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-effects/polarizing-filter.html
 
thanks but I'm not really into photoshop
 
joxang said:
I'm pretty sure he was referring to the reflection reduction + water transparency usages of polarisers ;).
Click to expand...

And it does, amazingly, work a little on that aspect, it would appear that the reflective properties of water aren't equal across the whole spectrum.

I wasn't really suggesting it as an alternative to a good CPL - every photographer should have one anyway - just pointing out that it's not totally an effect that can't be done in PP.
 
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