Are polarizing filters useful for underwater photography?
Asked 8/10/2012
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2 answers
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Can a circular polarizer be used underwater for photos or video, and does it provide any real benefit? I'm wondering whether a polarizer is practical below the surface, whether it has been used successfully, and in what situations it helps or becomes ineffective.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
12
It is possible and useful - and sometimes even crucial. Look at this example of a squid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_squid
It shows a picture with and without a polariser filter.
Originally by user11455. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11455
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—an underwater polarizer is possible, but its usefulness is limited and very situation-dependent.
Underwater light mostly comes from light refracted through the water surface, and that light is already partially polarized. Because of that, rotating a polarizer underwater often produces little noticeable change. In some orientations it can also cut a lot of light, which is a big drawback underwater where light is already limited.
It can still be useful in specific cases, especially with a strong artificial light source or for special subjects where polarization reveals details that are otherwise hard to see. A known example is imaging transparent marine life such as glass squid.
In general, though, without artificial lighting a polarizer is often of limited value underwater. It also reduces exposure and can make suspended particles more apparent, so you still need to work close to the subject.
So: possible, sometimes useful, occasionally crucial for specialized subjects—but for typical underwater shooting it is often not very effective.
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