Filters and air shows

[cambsno]

Have always been one of those people who has avoided filters, but Have been thinking about the merits of something like a polarising filter? Worth it or not?

 

[LongLensPhotography]

At certain conditions a polariser can mean a lot more contrasty and clearer shot. The effect is strongest 90 degrees to the sun and weakest at 180 and 0 degrees. A CPL will mean higher ISO, but that's OK in broad daylight.

 

[markmullen]

I've never used a cpl at an airshow as most of my shots have been as the aircraft passed the flight line left to right, as such unless you knew exactly at which point you'd be taking the shot you couldn't get the amount of polarisation accurate.

 

[modchild]

I've got a CPL and hardly ever use it TBH. I tried it for motor sports at one point and panning with the cars as they came past gave me problems getting the polarisation how I wanted it. It was great for a certain target area but poor elsewhere. I decided not to use it at the airshow I was going as I didn't want the same problems so I tweaked the contrast in post. I very rarely use any filters now as I just don't really like the outcome I get and I wont use any UV filters unless the conditions are really bad.

 

[cambsno]

Cheers guys. Thought that may be the case but didnt want to miss a trick.

 

[hollis_f]

I find a CPL invaluable when shooting cars as it greatly reduces specular reflections. And that effect isn't dependant on angles.

 

[modchild]

Well it didn't work out too well for me at a long sweeping corner of a race track with varying light from one end to the other, similar to sweeping from one end of a runway to the other at an airshow. On stationary subjects it works well though.