Filter for shooting clouds?

W

wplate

Member
Please forgive me for my ignorant question, my expertise lies not in photography. When shooting clouds, is a polarizer filter desirable? Or something else?

Here's a little test I shot yesterday, it seems like something is needed to reduce the haze and make the clouds pop a little more... http://www.vimeo.com/5846156
 
Some nice exploding clouds there.

You might want to try some color grading to add some blue to the sky.

Also, I almost always find a polarizing helps when shooting this kind of scene.

Jim
 
Jim Carswell said:
You might want to try some color grading to add some blue to the sky.

Also, I almost always find a polarizing helps when shooting this kind of scene.

Jim
Click to expand...

I planned to play with color correcting it some to see what I could do in post, but I wanted to know how I could better acquire the images to begin with.

Can you recommend a polarizing filter for an HPX170 ?

Thank you very much.
 
Just make sure you buy a good one, like a B+W. You want a circular polarizer of whatever size fits the camera (without vignetting). Just remember that a polarizer works best on a specific axis relative to the sun. Make a gun with your hand, point your finger at the sun and rotate your hand... the direction your thumb points will be polarized the most effectively.

Cheers,
 
Agreed, the camera should have three ND settings on it, you can try those for sure. I use them in a pinch on my HVX, works out pretty good most of the time.
 
Thank you everyone, I did have ND enabled on the HPX170, it was so bright outside I think it was set to 1/64.

When I search for "B+W 72mm circular polarizer" I am still presented with lots of choices, which one of these should I be looking at?
 
wplate said:
Thank you everyone, I did have ND enabled on the HPX170, it was so bright outside I think it was set to 1/64.

When I search for "B+W 72mm circular polarizer" I am still presented with lots of choices, which one of these should I be looking at?
Click to expand...


As mentioned above -- you want a "circular polarizer." Screw the filter onto your lens, point your camera at what you want to shoot, and then turn the moving part of the filter to reach the look you desire.

You can use this filter for dozens of uses -- including blue skies, seeing through glass, and manipulating reflections from almost any surface that reflects (including cars).

The one I've used on both the HPX170 and HMC150 with good results is from Hoya.

LINK: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/116782-REG/Hoya_A72CRPL_72mm_Circular_Polarizer_HMC_.html

I've also used this Hoya on a Zeiss 85mm with excellent results.

On the B&H web site people complained about "no instructions." So remember -- turn the dial till you get the look you like. :)

Good luck!
 
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