this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
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Photography

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Reflections on car paint. Ideal Polarizer to at least cut down on half the reflections? (alien.top)
submitted 1 year ago by A_Formidable_Enemy@alien.top to c/photography@viewfinder.pro
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I am a car photographer, I encounter a lot of reflections after I am editin or in the moment of shootin. Would a simple polar pro polarizer solve my problem somewhat? I look for angles in the moment to where the sun doesn’t bounce off onto me as well as heavy reflections. Such as people, myself, and buildings that can be spotted in the paint on the car.

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[–] bindermichi@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You don‘t need a polarizer if you have an OCF and a softbox… or multiple. If you are trying for proper car photography this should be easy to get.

The setup will be crucial.

  1. find the right angle you want to take the picture from.
  2. place the camera and do not move it until you’re done.
  3. take a picture.
  4. place the flash at an angle the will not reflect into your camera. The more flashes you have the better.
  5. take a picture
  6. repeat at step forciert a different position until you have properly lit the whole car.

-> go into Photoshop and stack all your images. Mask out the highlights you have created and blend everything together. Done.

[–] TheNakedPhotoShooter@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

How on earth is this easier than carrying a pola filter in your bag?

Also, this is nonsense unless you have a well equipped studio and can get a hold of the car for an extended time.

This is for a commercial shot, not What OP described.

[–] bindermichi@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Who said photography is easy?

[–] keep_trying_username@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How on earth is this easier than carrying a pola filter in your bag?

OP wants to eliminate reflections of people and buildings from mirrored surfaces such as painted car surfaces. "Such as people, myself, and buildings that can be spotted in the paint on the car."

A CP will not do what OP wants.

[–] TheNakedPhotoShooter@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

That's why I explained that it's helpful but not in the way they want, You'll need it to control reflections and glare on windows and plastic surfaces.

[–] ApatheticAbsurdist@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Are you dealing with cars outside lit by the sky or indoors under artificial lights. Polarizers will cut down reflections if the reflections are polarized, but while reflections from the blue sky are substantially polarized. Indoor lights will be much less polarized. The sun itself isn’t very polarized but the blue sky (which does cause a lot of reflections) is however it will be more polarized 90 degrees to the sun than it is 180 degrees to the sun, so a polarizer will work best if the sun is to your left or right and not in front or behind the camera.