A Beginner's Guide to Using Polarizing Filters for Better Photos

There are two fundamental lens filters in photography, the ND (neutral density) filters and the polarizing filter. While the ND probably gets a bit more usage, the polarizing filter is quite useful as well. This great video tutorial will show both why and how photographers use polarizing filters to improve their images. 

Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this helpful video tutorial will show you the ins and outs of polarizing filters. While ND filters are used to reduce the amount of light entering the lens, a polarizing filter allows you to filter out distracting reflections or glare or add a bit of contrast to the sky. For example, light striking moving water often scatters and creates glare that makes it difficult to impossible to see below the surface. A polarizing filter can cut through this glare, helping to bring more visual interest to your frame. Another situation where it can be helpful is when glare off of wet vegetation washes out otherwise saturated leaves and the like. Once again, a polarizing filter can cut through that glare and help the vegetation look its best. They're quite a useful tool for a lot of scenarios. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

Log in or register to post comments