5 Reasons Why You Need A Polarising Filter

 No filter                                                                                                           With Hoya PRO1D Circular PL filter

A polarising filter is a must have tool for any photographer, but especially those who take a lot of landscape photographs. It should be noted that using a polarising filter on lenses wider than 28mm is not recommended, as this can make the effect look false because only a portion of the sky will be deeply polarised.

Here are 5 top reasons that a polarising filter should be an essential piece of kit for you: 

Stop reflections - A polarising filter cuts out the reflections caused when sunlight hits water, which can sometimes ruin shots which involve lakes or other bodies of water. Fitting the filter will allow you to see underneath the surface of the water, too, as reflections causing a white rippling effect will be eliminated. You can also use a the filter to reduce reflections on glass, letting you shoot through glass more clearly. 

Reduce glare - Glare is also caused by the sun, or other bright light sources. It can occur on shiny surfaces, such as coloured plastics or painted wooden signs. Fitting the polarising filter will reduce glare, making the image look much more matte. 

Enhanced colour - Polarising filters are great for enhancing the colours of a scene. By cutting down the amount of reflection and glare in the scene, they allow things like foliage to take on a deeper, natural colour. 

Deepen blue skies  - Perhaps the most common use of a polarising filter is to give a blue sky more impact. They can also give the subject in the shot more clarity, contrasting with the rich sky. 

Reduce haze in the shot - Fitting a polarising filter will help to reduce haze in your shots, resulting in clearer images of far away landscapes, for example. This works especially well if it's raining, as it will cut glare from the drops and also add shape to the clouds.