A polarizing filter has an outer ring that you turn until you get the effect that you want, from full to none. The effect is strongest when your lens is pointed in the direction perpendicular to the sun. Observe the effect carefully as you turn the filter. Sometimes you can inadvertently cause an unwanted color fade, or cause your sky to become too dark.
Note that using such a filter will decrease the amount of light that travels through your lens, perhaps as much as 2 or 3 stops. This can be an adverse factor for handheld shots since you may need to use a slower shutter speed and thus camera shake may be introduced, which will lead to images that are not in sharp focus. The filter can introduce unwanted vignetting when used on a wide angle lens, thus it is not recommended for those lenses.
Be sure to use a circular polarizing filter. A linear polarizing filter is much less expensive but cannot be effectively used with your DSLR's metering and autofocus systems.
Your lens is most likely marked with a Ø symbol and a number in mm. This is the diameter of filter that you need to fit that lens. I recommend that you avoid the cheapest circular polarizing filters. The better ones are made of higher quality glass and have more durable coatings.
Finally, when you don't need it, take the filter off of your lens and stash it in your bag. It may not be needed indoors, for example. You should have a case in which to safely store the filter when not in use.
Copyright © 2013 Philip N. Wheeler. All Rights Reserved.
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