Polarizing Filter

I purchased a polarizing filter for an upcoming shoot where we need to shoot through car windows. And, with a very quick test, the filter makes a difference:


Sun Glare


Sun Filtered

Looking at the two images, the filtered sun may not look better in a movie because it looks like a light reflecting off the windshield.

However, the filter does reduce reflection, which makes it possible to see through windows that would normally just be trees.


Trees


No Trees

So will the polarizing filter help on our shoot? It should, but will need to be used with caution and care. It doesn't just "magically make everything better".

Speaking of care and caution, those are my fingers spinning the lens in the above images. The filter works by rotating it into the position that cuts out the correct amount of light for what you want. Unfortunately, I was pretty excited to test the lens, and so didn't think everything through really carefully. So, after screwing the lens on, I didn't realize that the lens spun freely and there was a separate threaded section that mounts the lens to the camera. And so my little investment fell off the camera and landed on my dirty driveway, somehow missing any rocks laying around that would have broken (or at least scratched) it.

Whew. That was close. If you go back and watch the tape you can hear me saying, "CRAP!" as it falls to the ground. So, the little lesson from this post is: Take time to think things through, especially if it's new to you.

The nice part of having the camera rolling was I got a few frames of the lens falling.


Filter Down

~Luke Holzmann
Your Media Production Mentor