Polarizing Filters - The Best Camera Filter to Improve Your Landscape Images

Photographers often use polarizing filters tothe pitfalls can be avoided with a bit of
improve the appearance of the images theyknowledge.
capture. With digital cameras many filters are noThe first thing one needs to know about a
longer necessary and do not always workpolarizing filter is that there are 2 different types.
correctly. There is one filter, however, that is theOne is the linear polarizing filter the other is the
most often used filter, and it is considered acircular polarizing filter. A circular or a linear filter
necessity to a landscape photographer. Whetherwill do exactly the same thing for your images;
using a digital or a film camera a polarizing filter willenhance them. To compare them, the circular
increase color and eliminate reflections in yourfilter is more expensive and the linear filter may
images.not be the best choice for most cameras that
To unlock the secret of the polarizing filter, youuse auto focus.
must use the filter correctly.A linear filter will often ruin the performance of
To use your filter, find the correct size filter to fitauto focus; the camera is unable to transform the
the lens you are currently using. (a 55mminformation correctly coming from the filter. A
polarizer for a 55mm lens etc). Secondly, screwcircular polarizing filter has an added layer which
the filter onto the front end of the lens (nearestscrambles the filtered light coming from the
the subject). After the filter is snugly attached topolarizer and the camera is able to read the
the lens, rotate the filter. Look through theinformation more clearly.
viewfinder as you rotate the filter and you willThe extra layer in the circular filter is the main
see the results immediately. Your landscapereason the circular is more expensive. But as you
images will take on a whole new look; skies willcan see it is often well worth the extra expense.
become more deep blue, clouds more brilliant andAlso, be sure when you purchase a filter that
grass greener. If you stand at a 90-degree anglethere is no color cast in the filter. Some filters
to the sun you will get the maximum effect fromcome with an odd cast, green or yellowish color;
your filter. Do not stand with the sun in front ofmake sure your filter has only a neutral grey cast.
you or behind you to take the shot.Another problem encountered with polarizing filters
A polarizing filter, used properly, on an overcastis found when using wide-angle lenses (28mm or
day will saturate the colors of the wet leaveswider). A wide-angle lens may see the rim of
giving life to the image. Of course, you must beyour filter, causing a darkening at the edges of
very careful on a low light day as a filter canthe image. Also, the sky can become unevenly
make your images too dark. A polarizer will cutpolarized as polarization varies with the angle of
the amount of light reaching your film or sensor.the sun and a wide-angle lens covers a wider area
To counteract the decreased light reaching theof the sky.
sensor or film, open the aperture or slow yourEven with a few pitfalls, the results achieved with
shutter speed to compensate.a circular polarizing filter are definitely well worth
Even though using a polarizing filter has manythe price of the filter. Using a polarizing filter will
benefits, which far outweigh the pitfalls, there aretake your images to a whole new level.
several pitfalls of using a polarizing filter. Most of