Cut through glare
Use a polarizing filter to add punch to your outdoor shots
If there’s one filter that should be top of your list, it’s the polarizer. But they don’t come cheap, especially if your lens’s filter thread diameter is 72mm or larger. Part of the reason is that they are actually two filters sandwiched together, with the front part of the filter able to be rotated freely to increase or decrease the strength of the polarization. Make sure you rotate the filter in the same direction you used to attach it to the lens, or you may loosen it – and wince as your fragile, expensive, glass hits the floor.
Outdoors, the effect is most dramatic when you’re shooting at right angles to the sun, so point your index finger at it and extend your thumb out at 90° to find the best position. Look at the image in the viewfinder or the rear display as you turn the filter to see how the shot changes. Keep an eye on any water or windows in your frame, as you’ll see reflections in the surface appear and disappear – stop turning when the effect looks best.
Polarizers can transform landscapes and cityscapes, but they need to be used carefully with wide lenses. The polarizing effect is direction specific, and this can leave one part of the sky looking darker than the others.