• A CPL filter cuts reflections from water or glass which gives a subtle look and objects do not appear very shiny.
• It also enhances color saturation (gives the sky a royal blue hue) and reduces haze (increases clarity).
• Let you see under the surface of lakes and streams.
• A CPL filter works best when you’re pointed 90 degrees from the sun. It is doing nothing shooting directly into the sun, or directly away from the sun.
• Use a wide angle CPL filter for wide angle lenses otherwise you might see uneven colour tone in the sky because the filter will create a stronger or weaker polarization effect in different parts of the frame.
• You can adjust how strong you want the polarization to be by turning the filter.
• Polarizing filters are very useful when taking photographs indoors. You may have experienced that when you take a picture of a person wearing glasses their eyes don’t show since the reflection from their glasses obscures them, a polarizing filter will cut out the reflection and the persons’ eyes won’t be obscured any more.

By Koos Fourie