DIY polarized light panel

Instead of a sheet of polarizing material and light panel, you can use the screen of a laptop or tablet computer. Set the desktop colour to a pure white, either by making a white canvas in Photoshop, or you can use an app such as Color Screen to make a pure white background. Place the tablet or laptop screen horizontally, very carefully place your subject on the screen and, finally, mount the camera above it.

Left: This plastic cutlery takes on an otherworldly appearance when seen under polarized light.