Comments on: Using the Singh-Ray Gold-N-Blue Polarizer http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381 Nature photography thoughts, ramblings and musings by Rob (and Gustav too!) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:24:12 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Rob http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381&cpage=1#comment-542 Rob Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:52:57 +0000 http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381#comment-542 Hey Mike, Thanks for the feedback... Glad you found this useful. The Gold-n-Blue is certainly a special filter, and yes, you need to know how to use it. You may be interested in reading these two posts from me on the Singh-Ray blog site... This a really good blog, and I hope you'll find this useful: http://singhray.blogspot.com/2009/10/whats-most-special-about-gold-n-blue.html http://singhray.blogspot.com/2009/04/finding-right-balance-with-gold-n-blue.html Rob Hey Mike,

Thanks for the feedback… Glad you found this useful. The Gold-n-Blue is certainly a special filter, and yes, you need to know how to use it. You may be interested in reading these two posts from me on the Singh-Ray blog site… This a really good blog, and I hope you’ll find this useful:
http://singhray.blogspot.com/2009/10/whats-most-special-about-gold-n-blue.html
http://singhray.blogspot.com/2009/04/finding-right-balance-with-gold-n-blue.html

Rob

]]> By: Mike G http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381&cpage=1#comment-541 Mike G Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:30:29 +0000 http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381#comment-541 Thanks for an informative article. I bought the filter for a trip to Hawaii (Kauai), and wish that I had read this sooner. Your description of "denim blue" skies accurately describes the look in a few of my shots. Great filter, but it does take some getting used to. Again, great tutorial. Thanks for an informative article. I bought the filter for a trip to Hawaii (Kauai), and wish that I had read this sooner. Your description of “denim blue” skies accurately describes the look in a few of my shots. Great filter, but it does take some getting used to. Again, great tutorial.

]]> By: Roger Boulanger http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381&cpage=1#comment-400 Roger Boulanger Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:11:19 +0000 http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381#comment-400 Thanks for your prompt reply. You've made some beautiful shots with it so I know it can be done. Like you say, I'll just need to experiment with it to learn where and how to use it effectively. Thanks again. Thanks for your prompt reply. You’ve made some beautiful shots with it so I know it can be done. Like you say, I’ll just need to experiment with it to learn where and how to use it effectively. Thanks again.

]]> By: Rob http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381&cpage=1#comment-399 Rob Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:02:07 +0000 http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381#comment-399 Hi Roger, I'm glad you like the article. There is no single right setting for the amount of polarization. It entirely depends on the scene you are shooting, the direction and quality of light, and the angle you are shooting. The best way to use this filter is to put it on, and rotate it until you like what you see through the lens. I have used this filter using wide angle lenses - see <a href="http://www.sojournsinnature.com/robert/coppermine/displayimage.php?pos=-503" rel="nofollow">Stormy April Sunset over Lake of Two Mountains</a>. But there are a couple of things to remember: 1) As with any polarizing filter, if you have a large area of blue sky, you will see uneven polarization when used on a wide angle lens. This is normal, so be careful. 2) I would not use this filter if there is a lot of blue sky in my scene, as the sky will turn a weird denim blue. The exception is when the sky is "milky white" blue - here, blue polarization of the sky will work very well. In this shot, the blue sky was extremely pale, almost white: <a href="http://www.SojournsInNature.com/localcoppermine/displayimage.php?pos=-1059" rel="nofollow">Spring at the Ile Bizard Marsh</a> - the Gold-N-Blue polarizer made the shot. 3) The only way to tame the filter is to use it in the field. Plop it on, turn it, shoot when you like what you see. You cannot learn how to use this filter by reading about it. You need to go out and play with it. If you have not yet done so, I recommend that you go and read the Singh-Ray blog - search for articles on the filter: <a href="http://singhray.blogspot.com/search/label/Gold-N-Blue" rel="nofollow">Singh-Ray Blog Gold-N-Blue articles.</a> Hope this helps. Rob Hi Roger,

I’m glad you like the article.

There is no single right setting for the amount of polarization. It entirely depends on the scene you are shooting, the direction and quality of light, and the angle you are shooting. The best way to use this filter is to put it on, and rotate it until you like what you see through the lens.

I have used this filter using wide angle lenses – see Stormy April Sunset over Lake of Two Mountains.

But there are a couple of things to remember:
1) As with any polarizing filter, if you have a large area of blue sky, you will see uneven polarization when used on a wide angle lens. This is normal, so be careful.
2) I would not use this filter if there is a lot of blue sky in my scene, as the sky will turn a weird denim blue. The exception is when the sky is “milky white” blue – here, blue polarization of the sky will work very well. In this shot, the blue sky was extremely pale, almost white: Spring at the Ile Bizard Marsh – the Gold-N-Blue polarizer made the shot.
3) The only way to tame the filter is to use it in the field. Plop it on, turn it, shoot when you like what you see. You cannot learn how to use this filter by reading about it. You need to go out and play with it.

If you have not yet done so, I recommend that you go and read the Singh-Ray blog – search for articles on the filter: Singh-Ray Blog Gold-N-Blue articles.

Hope this helps.

Rob

]]> By: Roger Boulanger http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381&cpage=1#comment-398 Roger Boulanger Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:28:23 +0000 http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381#comment-398 Hello Rob: Great article. I have a 5Dmk2 and yesterday I received my Singh-Ray G&B polarizer. Do you have any hints for setting the polarization while shooting? I tried a few W-A (~35mm) shots but I see quite a lot of color shift across the sky. Is it primarily for longer focal lengths? After only about 20 shots with the polarizer so far, I still have a lot to learn about its use, but I'm desperately trying to get up to speed before a trip to AZ in May! Hello Rob:
Great article. I have a 5Dmk2 and yesterday I received my Singh-Ray G&B polarizer. Do you have any hints for setting the polarization while shooting? I tried a few W-A (~35mm) shots but I see quite a lot of color shift across the sky. Is it primarily for longer focal lengths? After only about 20 shots with the polarizer so far, I still have a lot to learn about its use, but I’m desperately trying to get up to speed before a trip to AZ in May!

]]> By: Christopher Dodds http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381&cpage=1#comment-307 Christopher Dodds Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:47:27 +0000 http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381#comment-307 Hey Rob, Happy New Year to you. Great article. I used a Gold & Blue during my recent trip to New Mexico and loved it. Your explanation would have saved me a lot of time while I figured it out for myself during the trip. Well done! Regards, Chris www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Hey Rob,

Happy New Year to you. Great article. I used a Gold & Blue during my recent trip to New Mexico and loved it. Your explanation would have saved me a lot of time while I figured it out for myself during the trip.

Well done!

Regards,

Chris
http://www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

]]> By: Ed Taube http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381&cpage=1#comment-305 Ed Taube Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:37:45 +0000 http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381#comment-305 Hello Rob, We have not met, but I have been on several of Gustav's tours. Thank you for the tutorial. I own a blue/gold polarizer, but have been a little frustrated getting the results I wanted. I will try some of your suggestions and see what happens. Ed Taube Hello Rob,

We have not met, but I have been on several of Gustav’s tours. Thank you for the tutorial. I own a blue/gold polarizer, but have been a little frustrated getting the results I wanted. I will try some of your suggestions and see what happens.

Ed Taube

]]> By: Sue DeMaio http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381&cpage=1#comment-304 Sue DeMaio Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:25:54 +0000 http://www.sojournsinnature.com/blog/?p=381#comment-304 Rob, thanks for the indepth demonstration of the Gold and Blue polarizer. It was a great overview and interesting the way the filter reacts for different areas in your scene. Nice photo of Gryphon too. He looks like a real sweetheart. Rob, thanks for the indepth demonstration of the Gold and Blue polarizer. It was a great overview and interesting the way the filter reacts for different areas in your scene. Nice photo of Gryphon too. He looks like a real sweetheart.

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