Filters

dubtom

I'm trying to remember what filter to use to cut out the reflection when shooting through glass. I'm actually shooting video on a bike and reflections from the clocks etc seem to overlay the footage. Is it a UV or ND. Cokin used to have a pic in an old brochure of shooting through a car window,with and without the filter. basically the outside would be reflected on the window making the person inside virtually invisible without the filter, with the filter the person would be crystal clear. My problem is in reverse of this but the same effect, the chrome etc on the bike is obscuring the video. So any suggestions, I'm guessing it's one of the above although I could be wrong.

DaireQuinlan

Polariser filter is the one you're looking for, and if you're shooting any AF camera made after about 1980 or so, a circular polariser. Here's a quick google article:

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Polariser-guide

ThOnda

Polariser is fantastic, however it won't work on metal. The light reflected from metal is being polarized by it's atomic structure and polarizer can't cope with it. Only thing you can do is to avoid shooting metal objects (use plastic instead) or buy BIG polarizer filters and place them infront of the source of light.
However Polarizers are the best thing to improve your pictures - landscapes, portraits and even macro. Just learn how to use it and try to understand why it works. And the effect looking "through" glass is fantastic - especialy if the people in cars don't know that you can do that :-)
You can adjust the polarizer to have no effect or maximal effect (90 degrees difference), so if you are going to make a film (not a still picture), you can use it on your camera. Somebody behind the glass and then you let him dissapear just by rotating polarizer. Enjoy!

SOL

ThOnda wrote:

Polariser is fantastic, however it won't work on metal. The light reflected from metal is being polarized by it's atomic structure and polarizer can't cope with it.

Either the light is polarised or it's not, that polaroid filter doesn't care how it got that way...

Also, try looking a an PC screen, (not CRT) through a polaroid filer.