Grey filters vs exposure

Kell

Folks, I have a question. D'ye know the effect you get say when you are looking at a very bright outdoors scene through a pair of sunglasses? You know when you've got alto cumulus clouds that are really sharp in contrast between white and grey? Anyways, is it possible to achieve that effect through exposure, or better to slap on a dark grey filter snap away?

K-

Samson

The effect you mention is called polarisation.
This can be achieved very easily with a filter, called, suprisingly, a polariser.
Every photographer should have one.
Decent quality polarisers are not cheap though (I paid over €100.00 for - another - one, not so long ago).

Samson

Left: non-polarised
Right: polarised

More examples here: http://www.ephotozine.com/techniques/viewtechnique.cfm/recid/210

FinoBlad

agree with Samson, buy as good quality polarizer as you can afford.

the grey filter you were talking about is a grey graduated filter. I use Lee grads who show how they are used here

This is how they explain polarizer filters

Finally if using black and white film, a red [or orange] will darken the sky for you leaving the clouds white.

Kell

Originally posted by Samson
This can be achieved very easily with a filter, called, suprisingly, a polariser.
Every photographer should have one.

Erm no. Polarisers only work properly when you are at an angle to the sun. If you're pointing the polariser in the direction of the source of light then I have always found that you get no polarisation.

Oh and I do have one. 2 in fact. Any other suggestions?

K-

FinoBlad

you omitted in your question that you were pointing at the sun, in fact i'm not really sure what you're asking, but like you answered yourself, try grey grads

Kell

Apologies for the lack of clarity. I will try the grads and see how I get on.

Cheers for the replies all.

K-

Samson

I don't think a Neutral Density or graduated ND will do what you describe, it still sounds like a polarisation effect to me, most decent sunglasses perform some polarisation rather than just being darkening material (ND).

You should still get some effect from a polariser, even when not at the optimal angle to the sun or in dull weather (I have often used them deep in forests for cutting out reflections in streams and on leaves).

Anyone got any other ideas?

FinoBlad

If you're certain thats its not a polarizer [and you are], there is only one thing that sunglasses do besides polarizing and doing some effective ND filtration and thats Color Correction.

Color Correction is a bit too complex for you to explain what you want and for someone to explain how to get it.

Just to assume your sunglasses are brownish you can get an effect like this or maybe this

Take some time to surf that website totally, they will send you a very comprehensive booklet if you e-mail them, you might find what you're looking for.

Samson

I will probably start souding like a broken record, but this:

Originally posted by Kell
You know when you've got alto cumulus clouds that are really sharp in contrast between white and grey?

Really sounds like polarisation to me.

FinoBlad

I think its Polarization too, perhaps the solution is to buy a big pair of the sunglasses and fit them over the lens!

Everyone happy?

Kell

Originally posted by FinoBlad
Take some time to surf that website totally, they will send you a very comprehensive booklet if you e-mail them, you might find what you're looking for.

I think I might just do that. Oh and on the other thing, I checked a roll last night that was taken using the spare camera and guess what? Scratched end to end. Shower of B*stards.

K-

FinoBlad

that proves it so

DadaKopf

I stuck sunglasses in front of my lens to photograph an eclipse once. It worked out great.