Polarizer effect?

Doddy1974

Doddy1974

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Cathy
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I often like to shoot overlooking lakes etc. But when the sun is out I have a huge problem.
I have got photosensitive Epilepsy, and the sun flickering off the water can induce a seizure.

Would a CPL help in this situation? I am presuming it would as it takes the glare off the water?
Can't afford to go out and spend £50 if it's not going to work!

Thanks
 
Yes, you need a circular polariser. It will take reflections off of non-metallic surfaces if you are at a suitable angle to the water. Obviously this will only work through the camera, not when you look directly at it. You can get polarised sun glasses too. The polariser will effectively make water semi transparent, deepens the blue in skies etc.


...just a quick add-in, agree with the post below... my reply obviously does not cover your medical need, only photographic need.
 
Think you may need to spend more that £50 to get the best quality CPL and you'll still need to look into to the light and turn it get the maximum effect therefore you'll get hit with the reflections whilst you do that.
May be best just not to look towards the sun over water. No pic is worth a seizure.
 
Thankyou for your comments.

It doesn't sounds like my theory would work :( The risk is reduced if I close one eye, as I would if I was looking through the viewfinder, but I don't think it would be big enough effect to reduce the risk totally...I have been known to have a seizure with my eye closed, and the flickering effect still coming thru the eyelid so to speak :(


Arclight...you say I would have to spend more than £50...is this to get a better quality CPL? Would a better quality one work better than a cheap one? And if I bought the best, and I could find a way to set up my picture without looking over the water to adjust the CPL (don't quite know how yet), would it cut out the glare/flickering enough??

I love shooting lake pics, and haven't yet done it with the sun out, hence why some of my pics are flat looking. But one day the sun will be out, and I don't want to end up in a heap!
 
Doddy,
I have bought cheap ones that seem to do very little.
The Hoya Pro1 digital and Nikon CPL's are good, but expensive.

Bottom line is that you need to look through the viewfinder with the CPL on the lens then rotate the filter until max reflection is reduced and colour saturation increased. The effect varies dramatically according to the direction of the light (beware of picture corners becoming darker in blue sky scenes because the angle the light is coming in at is different from the centre).

Try to avoid the sun shining directly at you over water when looking for pictures.
Very unfortunate affliction - esp. for a photographer..

Don't know how of any way to overcome your problem.
Unfortunately no one seems to have found a way od replicating polarisers in processing software.
 
Why not discuss this with a medical specialist? I don't think this is really the right place for this sort of advice, although we do try! Hope you find a solution.
 
MartynK said:
Why not discuss this with a medical specialist? I don't think this is really the right place for this sort of advice, although we do try! Hope you find a solution.
Click to expand...

*** my neuro doesn't know much about photography! He gave me good advice about using Polarizing lenses on my glasses, but when I asked him with regard putting a polarizer on my camera..he had no idea!

I will just have to change what interests me I suppose :(
 
how about an optician?
he should know about polarizing and lenses etc, and being half medical he should know if it will set you off..?

just a thought.

wes:)
 
Doddy1974 said:
*** my neuro doesn't know much about photography! He gave me good advice about using Polarizing lenses on my glasses, but when I asked him with regard putting a polarizer on my camera..he had no idea!

I will just have to change what interests me I suppose :(
Click to expand...

What size polarizer do you need there's some in the classifieds from time to time??

worst case scenario is get a camera that has a waist level finder so the effects are less/minimal?
 
I have bought a polarizer and love it. It took me a while though to work out if you turn it, it changes the efficiency!!!
I am new!
 
I would need a 58mm CPL. I have been looking in the classifieds, but they don't come up that often!

I have spoken to my optician about it before, but he just tells me to speak to my neuro as he doesn't know much about Epilepsy. He said the Polarizer will help, but he wasn't sure as to how much...depends on how light sensitive I am. I know I am very sensitive to flickering, and the lowest frequency sets me off.

People are saying you twist the CPL to get the desired effect...even on it's "lightest" setting, would it still block out the flare?
I think the only thing I can do, is try Live View, or just give it a go through the viewfinder, and see how I fair off.

A thought just popped into my head...could I set the CPL so that I find the "darkest" setting, then maybe mark the ring so that I know where the darkest setting is...then when I put it on, it will already be set.
Or does it not work like this?

Sorry to be a PITA!
 
Doddy, PM me with your name and address it just so happens I've got a 58mm that I've had for ages it's made by Doi it wasn't expensive but you can try it out.

I'll post it to you

The effect of a CPL varies depending at what angle it is to the sun/reflections. A rule of thumb with them is it gives the best effect at 90degrees to the sun's ray or something similar.
 
chivers67 said:
Doddy, PM me with your name and address it just so happens I've got a 58mm that I've had for ages it's made by Doi it wasn't expensive but you can try it out.

I'll post it to you

The effect of a CPL varies depending at what angle it is to the sun/reflections. A rule of thumb with them is it gives the best effect at 90degrees to the sun's ray or something similar.
Click to expand...

Have sent you back a PM xx Thankyou so much :) I very much appreciate it :)

I guess it's going to be a case of risking it to see if it works or not. I am prepared to take the risk...it's not like I have gone months without a seizure...they are almost a daily occurance, so I won't lose anything by giving it a go, just feel even more worn out than I already do!
 
all packed up and will post it as soon as i can, post a picture you take with it on here :)
 
chivers67 said:
all packed up and will post it as soon as i can, post a picture you take with it on here :)
Click to expand...

Thankyou so much Peter...i really appreciate it ;) And I will be sure to post a pic :)
Fingers crossed it works eh!!
 
Just posted
 
Bless you...thankyou SO SO SO much :) I can't wait to give it a try! You are an absolute star!!
 
Looking forward to hearing if it works out.
Hope it does
 
Doddy1974 said:
I often like to shoot overlooking lakes etc. But when the sun is out I have a huge problem.
I have got photosensitive Epilepsy, and the sun flickering off the water can induce a seizure.

Would a CPL help in this situation? I am presuming it would as it takes the glare off the water?
Can't afford to go out and spend £50 if it's not going to work!

Thanks
Click to expand...

You need to speak with a optician/ophthalmologist who understands nurology - good luck - In my experience, most of the "experts" in this field, who are charging you for the pleasure are pretty much making it up as they go along

In my experience, the triggers and resoloutions, are very variable from patient to patient

A polarising filter will reduce the reflection a lot, but it wont reduce the flickering, just the intensity of the flickering. If you want to have a really simple, cheap experement, just buy a cheap set of polaroid sunglasses, and see if the reduction in flicker intensity is enough for you. Be aware - it is often not the intensity that causes the issue, but the frequency

If that resolves the issue you are then presented with some choices. Cover your eyes up with a polarising lens, or the camera (but dont do both)

I suspect you will want both options available to you

A decent oldshcool spectacle maker wil lbe able to craft a polarised plano lens and fit it in your camera eyepiece, which is also an option
 
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