Beecher's Handouts /

Filters / 18.3 - Polarizing

A Polarizing filter is a must-have filter.

Purchase a circular Polarizing filter if you have a camera with autofocus.

Manual focus cameras use linear Polarizing filters.

What It Does

Polarizing filters:

1) Make blue skies bluer.

2) Reduce reflections and glare from water, foliage, and other surfaces.

Spin It!

Polarizing filters spin.

Look through your viewfinder as you revolve the filter.

You'll see the color of the sky change—like in the photographs below.

I like how the Polarizing filter darkens the sky, making the clouds stand out.

Also, note how the field toward the right side is a more vibrant green with the Polarizing filter.


No Polarizing Filter	Polarizing Filter Revolved to the Point of Maximum Effect

Three Cautions

1) A Polarizing filter blocks about one stop of light.

So, remove the filter if it’s not needed, especially indoors.

2) Skies are not evenly Polarized.

Therefore, when you’re using a wide-angle focal length, a sky may show uneven lightening and darkening.

3) As mentioned, use only one filter at a time.

Because Polarizing filters are even thicker than other filters, be sure to remove other filters to prevent vignetting.