Women in Technology

Article:		Top Ten Digital Photography Tips
Subject:		save on expensive polarizers
Date:		2002-10-23 13:39:15
From:		apyh
Response to: save on expensive polarizers
one quick note... i think you can get filters out there on the net for ~$50, that "expensive" price pales in comparison to the pricetag on good photo manipulation programs like photoshop (~$600). Especially for the beginner I'd sooner tell them to shell out $50-$100 for a filter (or even less for some polarized sunglasses like the idea in the article) than have them consider buying photoshop.

Showing messages 1 through 5 of 5.

• save on expensive polarizers
  2002-11-01 14:59:40  stephaniem [View]
  
  
  I think polarised sunglasses are a great way to experiment with polarisation effects, especially for beginners. For anything like quality work, though, remember that the best sunglasses have abysmal optical quality compared to even a half-decent camera lens.
  
  Polarisers do many, many things that can't be simulated easily in Photoshop - or at all, in some cases.
  
  Polarisers don't uniformly increase contrast in an image; they darken only polarised light. This includes light from a clear sky that's at 90 degrees from the sun; reflections off water, glass and most other NON-metallic surfaces. They don't alter colour. Simulating these effects accurately in Photoshop is very time-consuming indeed; tweaking layers and curves isn't the same thing at all.
  
  A polariser can also serve as a handy ND2 filter to give you that extra long exposure or that shallower depth of field. Try simulating vehicle light trails in Photoshop; sure, you can do it with some practice. But shallow depth of field is a little harder to get right.
  
  Polarisers can also see through the reflections on water or glass. Photoshop can't.
  
  $50-$100 for a polariser? Outrageous? Possibly. But at my rates for Photoshop work, that's a bargain.
• best speed on moving objects?
  2010-01-04 15:52:53  ERICON5 [View]
  
  
  what's the best suggested speed to capture a moving object on stage( musical act/band) with spots lights that constatnly change of color and capture the object regardless of the background?
• save on expensive polarizers
  2003-11-10 06:32:12  anonymous2 [View]
  
  
  oooh.... "at my rates for Photoshop work...". Guess us hacks should make sure we purchase a Polariser then.
  
  Great article Derrick.
• save on expensive polarizers
  2003-01-20 14:52:23  anonymous2 [View]
  
  
  What are your rates for photoshop work? I have to outsource some work and I'm looking for competant individuals to handle image processing for the web... tlh@sysmatrix.net

• save on expensive polarizers
  2002-11-01 14:58:13  stephaniem [View]
  
  
  I think polarised sunglasses are a great way to experiment with polarisation effects, especially for beginners. For anything like quality work, though, remember that the best sunglasses have abysmal optical quality compared to even a half-decent camera lens.
  
  Polarisers do many, many things that can't be simulated easily in Photoshop - or at all, in some cases.
  
  Polarisers don't uniformly increase contrast in an image; they darken only polarised light. This includes light from a clear sky that's at 90 degrees from the sun; reflections off water, glass and most other NON-metallic surfaces. They don't alter colour. Simulating these effects accurately in Photoshop is very time-consuming indeed; tweaking layers and curves isn't the same thing at all.
  
  A polariser can also serve as a handy ND2 filter to give you that extra long exposure or that shallower depth of field. Try simulating vehicle light trails in Photoshop; sure, you can do it with some practice. But shallow depth of field is a little harder to get right.
  
  Polarisers can also see through the reflections on water or glass. Photoshop can't.
  
  $50-$100 for a polariser? Outrageous? Possibly. But at my rates for Photoshop work, that's a bargain.