Function and How to Use CPL Filter

by - 8:38:00 AM
CPL Filter or Polarizer or we can say polarization is one of the filter that most useful accesories for landscape photographer. Main function of CPL filter is to strengthen color contrast (vividness) in Landscape photo. 




To know how it work, look at 2 photo bellow : first photo is taken with CPL which is cling on lens and seen darker sky, clouds seen contrast, the building roof also more white and clear. Meanwhile the second photo without CPL, the sky seen more bright, the contrast on cloud is not really visible, so it's seen not so dramatic if we comparing with the first photo also the building roof see more dark. 

With CPL

Without CPL


In Landscape photograph that usually contain the sky as the part of photo element, CPL filter make the sky more blue so we get more dramatic impression. Beside it, CPL filter also decrease the reflection of shining surface such as water and glass, darken the sky and make the cloud seen more contrast, so in generally become more vivid. 

If you have lens that featured with whorl in front ( almost Digital SLR have it) , you can just put CPL filter on the whorl. After it, the way to use is just rotate the CPL  clockwise or anticlockwise  until you get the effect that what you want, which is light polarization. Polarization work with blocking the light that comes from current direction, so the light doesn't come to lens. 

When using CPL filter, the thing that you must remember is maximum polarization effect reached when in backlight. The other thing you must remember is when use use CPL filter on super big lens  ( under 16mm), we must careful because sometimes the sky is darker but the dark isn't equal. 

Beside darken the sky, like i've explained above , this filter also effective to decrease the shining stuff reflection. look at the differences on the photo bellow, the photo on left without CPL filter , it seen the reflection of glass reflection and car body. Meanwhile photo on the right using CPL filter , it seen the reflection is gone so the colors seen more deep :  



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The price CPL filter in the market  is from $ 22 until $ 225. Buy the best quality CPL filter based on your budget and make sure the size is suitable with the lens diameter that you want put in. 

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