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Polarizing filter effect: Could you replicate this in Photoshop?

5/22/2019

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I've generally avoided using a polarizer for two reasons: It substantially cuts down on the light entering the lens and you have to constantly fiddle with it to get the orientation right--move from horizontal to vertical and you must turn the filter, move to a different angle from the sun and you must change the filter. But I've found it can make a big difference in the quality of many images so I've been mounting my polarizer more frequently this past year. Besides cutting glare and reflections it boosts the colors. You often don't notice the minor reflections or color differences until you see the same image with and without polarization. Since we strive to make the best images we can in-camera, it can be a very important tool to use especially since the effect is nearly impossible to achieve in post-process. I recently went up to Chapman Falls and the Eightmile River in Devil's Hopyard State Park to photograph the expected fully flowing falls. It did not disappoint. Rather than a Neutral Density filter I opted to use just the polarizer as it was rather overcast so I thought I could achieve some slow shutter speeds for silky water shots. That worked as expected. What I did not foresee but was happy to find, and not surprised by, was the antireflective effect on the images. Here's an example from some rapids in the river.
Picture
On the left is basically unpolarized [the filter was on but the orientation was not polarizing the light] and on the right is the same scene after I turned the filter to a polarizing position]. I would be surprised if someone could turn the left image into the right image without major Photoshop skills.
These were done on a tripod to get long exposures. In cases where a long exposure is not necessary to the image you want, a polarizer may not hamper a hand held image since newer cameras have greater sensitivity at higher ISO. 
​So consider using a polarizer more often if you don't already do so.
​Maryann
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    Maryann Flick

    President, Coastal Camera Club

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