Polariser

Polarising filter

Photopedia

23 October 2007 12:59

A polarising filter is a special type of glass allowing you to increase the colour saturation of your images, reduce or remove reflections and glare and darken blue skies.

Without going into the deeper mysteries of the science, all light is transmitted in wave form. These waves travel in all directions at different rates and sizes, and polarising filters limit which waves enter the camera’s lens at any one time.

It might help to think of it like those children’s toys where different shaped blocks have to go in the correct holes. Polarising filters only allow certain light waves to go through the lens, while the other waves just won’t get through. By rotating the filter, different ranges of waves are let through, so the effect of the filter is altered.