Power of the Polarizer

A polarizer is a lens attachment that you can utilize to remove glare. The end result is more vibrant color. You can use it to make the sky a darker blue, bring clouds out from the haze, remove glare off the road and leaves, and also to help you see through the surface of water. It is simple to use and can produce excellent results.

Circular polarizer’s are best for auto focus cameras. Liner polarizer’s may interfere with camera focus. Simply attach it to the end of your lens. Look at your subject and rotate the polarizer until the glare is gone or the image appears darker. You will need to constantly adjust the angle of the polarizer as you change subjects. This is because the sunlight is coming in at different angles and the lens needs to be adjusted for optimal filtering.

A prime example of how a polarizer helps you is when I was visiting the USS Arizona. After over 65 years, the ship is still bleeding oil into Pearl Harbor and causing a nasty glare. Without the polarizer, I saw a lot of reflection on the surface. With it, I saw the ship. In nature, you can use it to remove glare from vegetation and bring out vibrate colors.

To see the difference before you invest in a circular polarizer, you can use polarized sunglasses. Hold your glasses away from your face so you can rotate them at least 90 degrees. Rotate them until the subject appears darker. That is a correct setting. Now, rotate the glasses 90 degrees. What you are looking at is what you would be shooting without a polarizer. The difference in color is amazing.