Not always...
These two images were taken a few minutes apart. One is obviously much richer in color (in the sky) than the other. Both had the use of a circular polarizing filter on the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 lens.
So why does one have so much richer sky color than the other?
It's in the angle and time of day that the image was shot. Each image is almost 90 degree angle from each other. The sun was mostly overhead. But the angle of where the sun was in one picture compared to the other made all the difference in the world when using the polarizing filter.
A polarizing filter is designed to filter out stray reflections as the light enters the lens. This can help do things like darken the sky, eliminate reflection on shiny surfaces (like glass), etc. It's a much used filter for outdoor photography. But it's use is often dependent on where the light source is. In this case even the sun at a different angle can make a difference in the sky color. Without the filter, it most likely would have looked about the same from photo to photo.
2 comments:
so is this something else that i need now? lol
i'm going to be buying the SB800 and gary fong diffuser (cloud) this week, maybe next.
Remember that you can take vertical shots with the Cloud by just rotating the head on your SB-800. I personally think that there is still a small amount of side shadow if you do that, but it is convenient for verticals. But be aware that if you do that for hundreds of shots per night at a wedding, you are going to wear out the rotating head!
I prefer to use a flash bracket and flip the bracket instead of flipping the head of the flash. But to use a bracket, you'll also need a cable for the flash so that you can mount the flash on the bracket and keep all the functions working with your camera.
I use a Newton bracket that can be purchased at B&H camera or directly from Newton. It's expensive though...
Alternatively, consider getting the Stroboframe VH2000. It's the same as a Newton, but not as refined. The metal is just sheet metal, not milled aluminum like the Newton. I had one a while ago until I upgraded to the Newton. Same function, just not as nice.
As for the Polarizing filter, if you get one, be sure it is a CIRCULAR polarizing filter. The other kind (non-circular) will not work with autofocus cameras.
Is it necessary to get one? Only if you want to minimize reflections. So shots of the sky or highly reflective surfaces (like shots of the lake) are going to benefit from using a Polarizing filter.
Good luck!
Russ
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