Filter Help

[RosscoPCole]

Sorry for sounding thick and stupid but any help and advice would be grateful.

I am going to the Bournemouth air show today and would like to know if a UV or polarising filter would be best?

The problem is that the beach is south facing and that a lot of photos taking towards the sun.

Any ideas, help, suggestions?

[Crafty_]

Not sure either will help much to be honest.
CPL might help cut down reflections on the aircraft itself.

I think I'd try to use spot metering to the aircraft isn't under exposed and see what I could save in PP by messing with highlights/shadows etc.

[Simpo Two]

Polarising will help to make the sky bluer at the price of exposure - but that shouldn't be a problem outside on a sunny day.

UV will do nothing other than add two more air/glass interfaces between the subject and your sensor.

A lens hood will help reduce flare if the sun is just out of shot and help to increase contrast, so defo take one if you have one.

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 31st August 09:46

[markmullen]

A polariser might help but the problem is most airshows the aircraft pass along the flight line left to right or vice versa which would see you twiddling the CPL like fury trying to keep pace.

I go with manual exposure for the aircraft and hope for blue skies, if not try and bring the sky back in pp.

[K12beano]

Definitely neither.

Polarbeariser will do nothing close to the direction the sun's at. Your sensor won't see UV light (under normal circumstances!)

You know how handy a baseball cap can be when you're out on a sunny day!?!?


That's what your camera needs. Usually called a lens hood. Bit of cardboard or rolled up newspaper/magazine/programme can all make good substitutes (or even improve things) with a bit of gaffer tape!

[RobDickinson]

If you can manage to keep a polariser working during an airshow your a better tog than I am.

[RosscoPCole]

Thank you chaps.
Will invest in some lens hoods in the near future.