How To Use Circular Polarizer Filters to Control Light Reflections on Cars

This has been my most challenging video to make. The topic is nuanced! There's no One Answer that solves everything, and even if there were, it would *still* be hard to describe, because a CPL filter doesn't have an indicator on it, or a setting that you can reference.

I almost called this "Circular Polarizers and Cars: Here’s What We Know," to make light of how abstract and hard to articulate this can be. But instead, I've combined many examples, and all my experience, and tried to put together a coherent and thorough video on this topic. I am hopeful that my efforts to put this into words will help you understand CPLs a little better, and enable you to take better photos with them.

0:00 Intro
1:51 What is a CPL Filter?
2:58 When Reflections are Bad
3:55 The Good Reflections
5:48 In Practice
7:06 When Not to Use a CPL Filter
8:15 Every Situation is Different
9:23 Outro

Some stuff used in this video (commissions earned):


------------

[coreypage]

One of the best CPL automotive videos out there! I used to cut all reflections until recently and this video has given me confidence on what im doing is correct 😀

[xxstrjacketxx]

This is the only video of ever seen on a CPL that actually explains and depth I'm now looking at CPL's in a whole new light

[IgorHorvat]

Probably the best video about CPL filters! :)

[michaelq]

now this is the best tutorial for cpl filters i've seen in my life

[_the_ordinary]

Yo, thank you. You are absolutely right. This is the only video that ever actually touched on the specifics and goal of a CPL filter, aside from to remove the reflections. You make excellent points and I am totally going to incorporate this knowledge into my car photography. You rock!

[lecoindupilote]

I just wanted to thank you for your videos. They are so helpful for an amateur like me. I am currently wondering what I want to do with my life, especially my job, and you are so inspiring. So thank you, and please keep producing this incredible work.

[phewis]

Thank you for making this video! I got less than 2 min. into the video when I herd you make the comment that I have always had in my head about using CPL to remove reflections. I may want to tone down the reflection on the body of a car or tone it down on a window, but I don't ever want to remove it completely. You are the first person to make this point about how they they can help accent the curves of a car.

[brianjordan]

Great video. I've never really thought about the "CPL sky". That makes a lot of sense. I will start looking for good reflections. I've always thought they were all bad, but your example made a lot of sense. This has got to be one of the best videos I've watched on CPLs.

[samthetoolman]

Honestly the best video on Polarized filters I have ever seen

[mrbrakelol]

Another very informative video. The best CPL video I've seen... You don't use it as an ON/OFF switch for reflections, but a tool to dial in a specific look you want in the reflections... how an artist uses a tool

[TancooMedia]

By far the best video I've seen on CPL's! Appreciate the nuance you approached it with.

[juanjacobo]

Best video ever I love how you artistically talk about the reflection and the life it brings to the photo

[headgames]

I’ve been binging your videos for the last week and learned a lot! Your delivery is awesome, I really relate with the honesty of your opinions. Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

[petermcginty]

Thank you. Once I went to a car show on a sunny, super-bright day. Got some beautiful images of old cars, including the reflections of the next car! This video will help me in future car shows, thank you. 🎉🎉🎉

[droneviking]

best video on the use of CPLs I found so far, thank you!

[GabriCasas]

You deserve way more views and recognition. Your work is amazing: the videos are informative, straight to the point, well structured and cover aspects that pretty much can't be find anywhere else.

Thank you for the fantastic work you put into this channel. I trully appreciate quality content like yours.

[onnorijpstra]

The best filter explanation video i have seen so far. Thank you.

[erdwinpalacios]

Amazing video, one the best videos on how to use a CPL in automative photography!

[CHILLINWITH_LUKE_KEV]

Great video… This is the eighth video I’ve watched today trying to find an answer to exactly what you were talking about. You’re the first person to answer my question. Smashed the "like" button and definitely a new subscriber.

[marianmorales]

Éste es un perfecto video de como utilizar un filtro CPL. Agradezco haber pasado por acá a revisar tu video, muchas gracias por los tips! Le puse al video su merecido like ❤