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01/27/2009 12:37:03 AM · #1 |
| Is it worth using one for studio portraits? |
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01/27/2009 06:19:04 AM · #2 |
Easy way to reduce DOF and some applications for products and materials. But for portraits, generally no.
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01/27/2009 06:21:29 AM · #3 |
| I have never used a polarizer indoors myself. But if you are doing a portrait with for example glasses, I'd suppose it may help in reducing unwanted reflections/glare. |
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01/27/2009 09:54:09 AM · #4 |
| I've not done it, but one of my photography books suggests it to reduce glare and to also soften harsh "almost blown out" colors. Their example was a woman indoors with a shiny white dress on. Hope this helps. |
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01/27/2009 10:15:22 AM · #5 |
| I almost always use a polarizer (mostly for DOF). |
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01/27/2009 12:13:57 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by scalvert:
I almost always use a polarizer (mostly for DOF). |
How does it affect DOF in a way you are not able to affect it with a combination of camera and flash settings? |
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01/27/2009 12:25:47 PM · #7 |
| Even at the lowest settings, my monolights are too powerful to get a decent exposure at f/2.8 (it'd be nice if flash sync went up to 1/500, but I seem to be limited to about 1/250). The polarizer knocks down the light by a full stop or so, and allows a wider aperture. I'll sometimes add an ND filter, too, but the polarizer is my go-to filter since it helps intensify colors and reduce glare. |
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01/27/2009 12:34:19 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by scalvert:
Even at the lowest settings, my monolights are too powerful to get a decent exposure at f/2.8 (it'd be nice if flash sync went up to 1/500, but I seem to be limited to about 1/250). The polarizer knocks down the light by a full stop or so, and allows a wider aperture. I'll sometimes add an ND filter, too, but the polarizer is my go-to filter since it helps intensify colors and reduce glare. |
Why not just buy some ND filters for your strobes? I know they make them by Rosco and Lee. You could just buy a sheet, and stack them in front of your mono lights. You would be down to 2.8 in a hurry. FWIW I use a polarizer all the time but rarely work with my strobes. Usually I use it to help with ambient light/sky/reflections.
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01/27/2009 01:48:55 PM · #9 |
| Careful with polarizers in portrait work... they can make skin and hair look very "flat" (as in not shiny, not as in two dimensional) While this may occasionally be somewhat helpful, it's more often than not problematic, especially with hair. |
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01/27/2009 02:01:40 PM · #10 |
| Good point. Gotta remember the metallic shampoo. ;-) |
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01/27/2009 05:57:29 PM · #11 |
| I've never tried it but you may want to look at the first couple of shots real close if you do try it. It just might knock the catch lights out of the eyes on you too. After all they are a reflection. |
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