I picked one up just before a vacation trip overseas. I wasn't getting consistent results. Although, it didn't come with instructions so I was just eyeballing it for the shots. It was a Hoya Circ Polar for my 30D. I got a 77mm for my 10-22mm and 17-55mm. When it did work nicely I got these:





Other times, it didn't seem to have any affect, but I did notice those times it was overcast. Do I need cloudless skies to get the full effect?

 

If you weren't already aware, the effectiveness of polarization goes from practically zero when you're shooting in-line with the Sun, to maximum when you're shooting at 90 degrees to the Sun.

 

I read about the 90 degree being the most effective, but I'm not sure how to figure that out exactly when I'm out shooting. So does inline mean the sun is either in front or behind me?

 

 

Thanks! That helps.

 

you probably know this, but I'm not going to assume... turning the filter will change its effect.

 

Thanks, I did know it turns but it didn't come with a manual describing what the white notch on the turning part signified. Hoya's website didn't help either. It seemed like the notch at anywhere between 11 and 2 o'clock had the greatest impact on the image. I was just eyeballing the changes through the lens. I just need to shoot with it more to experiment.

 

I did forget to mention the top picture was through a windshield. I was able to dial it up to remove the reflection.

 

apparently your windshield had a scratch or something, look near the license plate of the car in the foreground.

anyways maybe the issue w/ your polarizer was because your lenses have a front rotating mechanism for the focus, so if you would set your amount of polarization and then have the camera focus, you lose your polarization setting cause the front of the lens rotates to focus.

what you could do i suppose is set the focus before and then set it to manual focus so it doesn't change when you want to actually take the photo, then set the amount of polarization you want and then finally take the picture

 

The easiest way I use a polarizer is by making an "L" with my right or left hand (index finger and thumb at 90° angle). Hold out infront of you and point your index finger towards where the sun is in the sky. Turn the notch in the polarizer to where your thumb is.

And keep the sun off of your long axis like Billiam said.

 

Sweet man, I might have to pick up a circular polarizer soon

 

Nah, that's not it. The 17-55mm and 10-22mm have internal focusing elements. The front ring doesn't turn when it focuses. I just have to get the orientation of the sun to the subject right each time and just keep playing with it.

 

Good tip. Thanks.

 

BTW - Almost everyone knows about using polarizers for skies but they can also produce dramatic results on vegetation. Most plant leaves have a natural sheen to them that reflects ambient light (mostly from the sky). The polarizer eliminates this sheen which results in a natural deepening of the plant's color. It's a fairly sublte effect if you're just looking at small portions of an image but over an entire photo the effect can be quite noticeable.